The Musical America Guide To
February 2020
The Musical America Guide to Top COMpetitions Editor’s Note Compiling what is likely the most comprehensive Guide to Competitions available may seem like a straightforward task but, rest assured, it is not. The competitions we contact provide the usual information—application deadlines, eligibility rules, artistic disciplines, frequency, dates, fees, and more. But the application dates may not yet be set in stone (“late Spring 2022”), or the date has already passed but the competition has not (“December 3, 2019”/”June 3, 2020”), or the deadline has passed but can be stretched with a late fee attached, or maybe the applications are not even open yet. Additional variables: Is the competition national? International? Statewide? Continental? What about the jury members? Are any of them teachers and, if so, are their students allowed to compete? (That’s always a good one for discussion after the winners are announced.) Is there an equal number of men and women on the jury? Of performers and, say, general directors or other administrative types? Is the screening jury distinct from live/finals jury? Eligibility rules may seem straightforward, but the evidence indicates otherwise: In vocal competitions, the age range for men and women is different; the same can be said for multi-instrument contests. The hardest to categorize, both from an age and instrumental makeup, are the ensembles; in addition to the usual piano trio or string quartet, what about a group between five and nine pieces with no more than two pianos? Then there’s the ensemble age: some competitions set a youngest- and oldest-member age, others a median member age, others a sum of the parts. One sets an age for the group’s existence with the same or a few different members as of the application date. The Musical America Guide to Top What about applications materials? Video? Audio only? Bound score fully recorded? Letters of recommendation? Application fee? How much? Prizes are all over the lot, too, ranging from no cash to $100,000, from management COMpetitions and pre-booked recitals to mentoring and concerto dates with orchestras, to all of the above. We run all those disparate elements through our filter to make the result as useful as possible. We hope it’s helpful, both to aspiring talent and to those trying to find the bright future stars. Regards, Susan Elliott Editor, News and Special Reports
Cover Photo: HM Queen Sonja of Norway awards the first prize to Korean tenor Seungju Mario Bahg at the Queen Sonja International Music Competition 2017. Credit: NTB scanpix/Terje Bendiksby. The musical america Guide to Top Competitions musicalamerica.com • February 2020 The following listings were drawn from the 2020 Musical America Worldwide database. Competitions Note that the majority have first-prize monies of $10,000 and over. AGO/ECS Publishing Award in Choral Composition...... 3 Michael Hill International Violin Competition...... 21 New York International Piano Competition...... 38 Siemens Hallé International Conductors Competition 2020...... 47 The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions 2020 Hilton Head International Piano Competition...... 21 The 10th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition...... 39 Sphinx Competition...... 48 in the Performing Arts...... 3 Ima Hogg Competition...... 22 PianoArts...... 40 Wilhelm Stenhammar International Music Competition...... 49 ARD International Music Competition...... 4 Honens International Piano Competition...... 23 Plowman Chamber Music Competition...... 40 Stulberg International String Competition...... 49 The Azrieli Music Prizes...... 4 The Hong Kong International Piano Competition 2022...... 23 Princess Astrid International Music Competition...... 41 Sydney International Piano Competition...... 50 2020 Gina Bachauer Junior and Young Artists International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn...... 24 Queen Elisabeth Competition–Belgium-Brussels...... 41 Takamatsu International Piano Competition...... 50 international Piano Competitions...... 5 International Art Song Competition Stuttgart...... 24 The Queen Sonja International Music Competition...... 42 Toru Takemitsu Composition Award 2020...... 51 Banff International String Quartet Competition...... 6 International Conducting Competition Rotterdam...... 25 Rapido!® A 14-Day Composition Contest...... 43 36th Valsesia Musica International Competition 2020...... 52 Barlow Endowment International Music Cologne 2020...... 25 The 16th Arthur Rubinstein Viotti International Music Competition...... 52 for Music Composition—Prize Competition...... 6 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis...... 26 international Piano Master Competition...... 43 VSA International Young Soloists...... 53 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2021...... 7 International Vocal Competition ’s-Hertogenbosch...... 26 Schadt String Competition...... 44 International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition Poznan´...... 53 Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors...... 7 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition...... 27 Schmidt Vocal Competition...... 44 Wigmore Hall/Independent Blue Danube/Bartók International Jinji Lake International Piano Competition 2020...... 27 Schoenfeld International String Competition...... 45 opera International Song Competition...... 54 opera Conducting Competition 2020 (8th Edition)...... 8 Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition Hannover...... 28 Franz Schubert and Modern Music...... 46 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition...... 54 William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition...... 9 Johansen International Competition Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition...... 46 Wilson Center Guitar Festival...... 55 Canadian International Organ Competition...... 9 for Young String Players (Ages 13-17)...... 28 XII International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition...... 47 Young Concert Artists International Auditions...... 55 China International Music Competition...... 10 Kocian Violin Competition...... 29 Christmas Carol Commission Competition...... 11 Leeds International Piano Competition...... 30 Cleveland International Piano Competition...... 11 Lotte Lenya Competition...... 30 Sixteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition...... 12 The Gerda Lissner Foundation in Association Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival...... 13 with the Liederkranz Foundation...... 31 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition...... 13 Liszt Competition Utrecht...... 31 Concours Musical International de Montréal—CMIM...... 14 Lyon International Chamber Music Competition...... 32 Cooper-Bing Competition...... 15 The Mahler Competition...... 32 Thomas And Evon Cooper International Competition...... 15 Malko Competition for Young Conductors...... 33 Dublin International Piano Competition...... 16 Fourth International Éva Marton Singing Competition...... 34 The George Enescu International Competition...... 16 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions...... 34 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition...... 17 MTNA National Student Competitions...... 35 The Musical America Guide to Top Fleischmann International Trophy Competition— National Chopin Piano Competition of the United States...... 35 cork International Choral Festival...... 18 National Association of Teachers of Singing Competitions...... 36 International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition...... 18 Walter W. Naumburg Foundation, Vocal Competition COMpetitions Geneva International Music Competition...... 19 in Concert Repertoire...... 37 Global Music Awards...... 20 Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition...... 37 The 17th International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition...... 20 Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition...... 38
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions musicalamerica.com • February 2020 AGO/ECS PUBLISHING AWARD THE AMERICAN PRIZE NATIONAL IN CHORAL COMPOSITION NONPROFIT COMPETITIONS IN THE PERFORMING ARTS
The Competition seeks outstanding compositions DETAILS The American Prize: Providing evaluation, recognition, Smallest prize Less than $5,000 for SATB chorus and organ in which the organ plays Travel covered? No and reward to America’s finest performing artists, en- Additional prize Performances a distinctive and significant role; requirements vary Frequency Biennial sembles, and composers, based on recorded perfor- Jury chair David (Volosin) Katz for each competition. There is a $2,000 cash prize First prize Less than $10,000 mances. Professional, college/university, community, Additional jurors and publication by ECS Publishing. Jury chair(s) Not provided high school. No age limits. No live competition. Sharon Sweet, voice; Susanne Mentzer, voice; Jury size 1 to 5 Jeffrey Biegel, piano; Lorin Hollander, piano; Judith MAIN OFFICE Application deadline June 30, 2020 The American Prize is proud to have awarded over Zaimont, composition; additional judges TBA 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260 Application notes $75,000 in cash prizes in all categories since 2010. Jury size 1 to 5 New York, NY 10115 Deadline is tentative and subject to change. Application fee UNITED STATES MAIN OFFICE The American Prize $50 individuals, $90 ensembles 212-870-2310 COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Application deadline May 4, 2020 email website ✖ Not open to the public 25 Hamilton Drive, Suite 100 The Opera Cottage Application notes ELIGIBILITY Danbury, CT 06811 Final deadline for composers, chamber musicians, The Competition is open to all composers except UNITED STATES instrumental soloists, classical vocalists and pianists AGO/ECS past winners. Membership in the AGO is 203-746-2694 is July 6, 2020. Final deadline for conductors, not required. email website ensembles, stage directors, arts administrators, and American music performance is August 3, 2020. ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE ELIGIBILITY Organ and SATB Chorus The competitions of The American Prize are open to SEMIFINALS (live rounds) all U.S. citizens, and all those living or working here. The American Prize judges recorded performances only, submitted via online links or on disc. There is ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES no live competition. The contests select semi-final- Conducting • Piano • Strings • Voice • Composition ists, finalists, runners-up, and winners in separate • Orchestras • Choruses • Bands • Opera companies announcements over the course of the contest year. • Musical theater companies • Stage directors • (Charles Nelson Reilly Award) • Arts administrators FINALS (live rounds) • Chamber ensembles • Instrumental soloists The American Prize judges recorded performances • Orchestral programming (Vytautas Marijosius only, submitted via online links or on disc. There is Award) • Performance of American Music (Ernst no live competition. The contests select semifinal- Bacon Award) • Education / outreach award (new in ists, finalists, runners-up and winners in separate 2020) • Chicago Oratorio Award (performances and announcements over the course of the contest year. cash prizes) COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? DETAILS ✖ Not open to the public Travel covered? No Social links Frequency Annual First prize Less than $10,000
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions musicalamerica.com • February 2020 ARD INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION THE AZRIELI MUSIC PRIZES
One of the most renowned and large-scale Jury chair(s) The biennial Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP) offer ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Composition competitions of its kind takes place every year in Patrick Gallois (flute); Eric Crees (trombone); opportunities for the discovery, creation, four varying categories. The invitation to participate Clive Greensmith (string quartet) performance, and celebration of excellence in DETAILS in this competition is extended to young musicians, Additional jurors new concert music through the awarding of Travel covered? Yes who are ready to launch an international career. Flute: Emily Beynon; Sharon Bezaly; Davide three $50,000 CAD cash prizes: The Azrieli Frequency Biennial Formisano; Pirmin Grehl; Sarah Louvion; Walter Auer Commission for Canadian Music, the Azrieli Prize First prize $10,000 to $50,000 CAD MAIN OFFICE Trombone: Abbie Conant; Antoine Ganaye; Fabrice for Jewish Music, and the Azrieli Commission for Additional prizes Performances Internationaler Musikwettbewerb der ARD Millischer; Tobi Oft; Hansjörg Profanter Jewish Music. Recording c/o Bayerischer Rundfunk String quartet: François Kieffer; Anthea Kreston; Bjørg Jury chair(s) Rundfunkplatz 1 Lewis; Vera Martínez; Jirí Pinkas; Oliver Wille MAIN OFFICE Jewish Prizes: Boris Brott (L’Orchestre classique 80335 Munich Piano: Michel Béroff; Imogen Cooper; Janina 22 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 202 de Montréal) / Canadian Prize: Ana Sokolovic GERMANY Fialkowska; Andrea Lucchesini; Ragna Schirmer Toronto, ON M4T 2S3 (Université de Montréal) +49 89 5900 42471 Jury size 6 to 10 CANADA Jury size 5 for each prize email website Application fee 416-322-5928 x326 Application fee None email website Application deadline TBA ELIGIBILITY €10 application fee, €90 / €190 participation fee (soloists / string quartets) Application notes The 2020 Competition is open to musicians of ELIGIBILITY The Call for Scores and Proposals for the 2020 Azrieli all nations born between 1991 and 2003 in the Application deadline March 31, 2020 The Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music is awarded Application notes Music Prizes is now closed. The 2020 Laureates were categories flute, trombone, piano, and string biennially to a composer who has written the best publicly announced on November 7, 2019. quartet. String quartet: average age maximum 120; Online application starting from mid-February. new major work of Jewish music. Works may be individual members neither younger than 17 nor SEMIFINALS (live rounds) nominated by individuals and institutions. They may The Call for Scores and Proposals for the 2022 AMP older than 35. Prinzregententheater, Munich, Germany have been premiered in the last 10 years but not Competition will be released early in 2021. This have a significant performance history or have been round will focus on choral music. Please visit for ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Flute: September 6, 2020 • Trombone: September 8, commercially recorded. more information. Piano • Flute • Trombone • String Quartet 2020 • String quartet: September 10, 2020 • Piano: September 11, 2020 The Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music is given to FINALS (live rounds) DETAILS the composer who proposes the best response to Winner’s Gala Concert held biennially in mid- Travel covered? No FINALS (live rounds) the question, “What is Jewish Music?” in the shape of October on even years in Montréal, Canada. Frequency Annual Herkulessaal der Residenz, Munich, Germany a musical work that displays the utmost creativity, The 2020 Gala Concert will take place in Salle First prize €10,000 to €50,000 Flute: September 9, 2020 • Trombone: September 11, artistry, and musical excellence. The Competition is Pierre Mercure on October 22, 2020, with Le Smallest prize €5,000 to €10,000 2020 • Piano: September 13, 2020 open to composers worldwide, of all faiths, back- Nouvel Ensemble Moderne and soloist Kristina Additional prizes Performances Prinzregententheater, Munich, Germany grounds and affiliations. The winning submissions Szabo (mezzo-soprano) conducted by Lorraine Recording String quartet: September 12, 2020 are chosen by the AMP Jury for Jewish Music. Vaillancourt. COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? The Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music is COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed offered to a Canadian composer to create a new ✖ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed musical work that creatively and critically engages ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed with the challenges of composing concert music in Social links Social links Canada today. The winning proposal is chosen by the AMP Jury for Canadian Music.
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions musicalamerica.com • February 2020 2020 Gina Bachauer Junior and Young Artists International Piano Competitions ĄĄėď=BH9FB5H=CB5@9FďK9HH69K9F6 24 pianists ages 11-14 and 24 pianists ages 15-18 DETAILS compete in back-to-back competitions in June 2020 Travel covered? No in Salt Lake City in their quest for $62,000 U.S. in Frequency Quadrennial prizes and the opportunity to perform in the Final First prize $10,000 to $50,000 Round in Abravanel Hall with the Utah Symphony. Smallest prize $5,000 to $10,000 Additional Prizes Performances MAIN OFFICE Recording https://schubert.kug.ac.at 138 West 300 South, Suite 220 Jury chair Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Douglas Humpherys, Bachauer artistic director UNITED STATES Additional jurors 801-297-4250 Alvin Chow (USA); Rae de Lisle (New Zealand); 9>7C8;HĥCKI?9 email website Miyoko Lotto (Japan/USA); Frank Weinstock (USA); ELIGIBILITY Eleanor Wong (Hong Kong); Bernd Zack (Germany) Open to pianists of any nationality, ages 11-14 or Jury size 6 to 10 COMPETITION ages 15-18. Pianists who have studied on a regular Application fee $150 basis with any member of the 2020 international Application deadline September 15, 2019 ǜǢǚǒÅǒǝǡǚǜǞǚǞǜǞǝ jury, or with the artistic director of the Competition, SEMIFINALS (live rounds) or with any other person currently employed by Junior Competition: June 15-18, 2020, Rose Wagner ;F5Nď#ď5IGHF=5 the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake City, UT 7FFBOĥKDJ?BĥěĚĭĚęĭěęěę within the last five years, are ineligible to participate. Young Artists Competition: June 22-25, 2020, Rose ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano Wagner Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake City, UT FINALS (live rounds) Junior Competition: June 20, 2020, Rose Wagner 8ICď:CFďJC=79ď HF=Cď:CFďD=5BCĖďJ=C@=Bď Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake City, UT 5B8ďD=5BCďē@=98Ĕ 5B8ďJ=C@CB79@@C Young Artists Competition: June 27, 2020, Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City, UT in association with the chamber music competition COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? =BH9FB5H=CB5@ģ7CĈDCG=H=CBģ7CĈD9H=H=CBG ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed @=98ď8IC D=5BCďHF=C 30.04.2020 submission deadlines 26.02.2020 Social links Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz Leonhardstraße 15, A-8010 Graz | [email protected] | T +43 316 389 1900
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions musicalamerica.com • February 2020 BANFF INTERNATIONAL BARLOW ENDOWMENT FOR MUSIC COMPOSITION— STRING QUARTET COMPETITION PRIZE COMPETITION
Since 1983 BISQC has celebrated the art of chamber ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings The 2020 winning composer receives a $12,000 DETAILS music while providing career support for emerging commission for a major new work for song cycle Travel covered? No string quartets. Join the most dedicated chamber DETAILS of 9-12 minutes. The work will be performed by Frequency Annual music audience on the planet for a once-in-a- Travel covered? Yes consortium of performers including Tony Arnold First prize $10,000 to $50,000 lifetime experience. Outstanding music-making, Frequency Triennial and Diane Reich with the option of another Smallest prize $11,000 to $50,000 enlightening lectures, passionate discussions, First prize $10,000 to $50,000 performer. Additional prize Performances delicious food, and spectacular mountain vistas Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Jury chair(s) Not provided await you. Additional prizes Performances MAIN OFFICE Jury size 6 to 10 Recording Brigham Young University Application fee None MAIN OFFICE Jury chair A-501 HFAC Application deadline June 1, 2020 107 Tunnel Mountain Drive Barry Shiffman, director, BISQC Provo, UT 84602 Application notes PO Box 1020 Station 23 Jury size 6 to 10 UNITED STATES This deadline is a receipt deadline, not a mailing Banff, AB T1L 1H5 Application deadline March 1, 2022 801-422-8611 deadline. CANADA email website 403-762-6231 SEMIFINALS (live rounds) FINALS (live rounds) email website August 29 – September 3, 2022, Eric Harvie Theatre, ELIGIBILITY Notification of winners will be announced on the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Banff, AB, There are no restrictions with regard to musical website and Facebook by September 15 annually. ELIGIBILITY Canada style, nationality, age, gender, race, religion, or 1. The Competition is open to string quartets of all (The ten competing quartets perform in all four political persuasion. The only limitations are: (1) COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? nationalities whose members are under the age of preliminary rounds) Composers who have won the Barlow Prize in the ✖ Not open to the public 35 on August 29, 2022. previous five years will not be considered; and (2) 2. First- and second-prize winners of any previous FINALS (live rounds) Members of the Barlow Boards are not eligible. Social links Banff International String Quartet Competition September 4, 2022, Eric Harvie Theatre, Banff Centre (BISQC) are ineligible to apply.* for Arts and Creativity, Banff, AB, Canada ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Composition 3. Quartets may compete in BISQC a maximum (three quartets advance to the finals) of two times only. Quartets that have already COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? competed twice in BISQC are excluded from ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed participation.* ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed * For the purposes of rules 2 and 3, a quartet will Social links be considered the same quartet if 50 percent of the personnel are returning.
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions musicalamerica.com • February 2020 BBC CARDIFF BESANÇON INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SINGER OF THE WORLD 2021 FOR YOUNG CONDUCTORS
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World is known throughout DETAILS Established in 1951 the Besançon Conducting DETAILS the classical music world as one of the premiere Travel covered? Yes Competition is the most complete competition in Travel covered? Yes showcases for young professional singers at Frequency Biennial the world with classical, Romantic, 20th-century, Frequency Biennial the start of their careers. It is broadcast on BBC First prize €10,000 to €50,000 and contemporary music, oratorio, opera. Alexander First prize €10,000 to €50,000 Television, Radio, and online, and can be seen and Smallest prize Less than €5,000 Gibson, Gerd Albrecht, Seiji Ozawa, Michel Plasson, Additional prizes Performances heard throughout the world. Main prize is for opera Additional prize Performances Zdenek Macal, Sylvain Cambreling, and Yutaka Sado Management and oratorio with orchestra; Song Prize is for art Jury chair are among the most prestigious winners of the Jury chair(s) Not provided song with piano. Aidan Lang, general director, Welsh National Opera Competition. Jury size 6 to 10 Additional jurors TBD Application fee €250 MAIN OFFICE Jury size 1 to 5 MAIN OFFICE Application deadline December 31, 2020 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World / BBC Cymru Wales Application deadline June 30, 2021 Festival de musique Application notes Central Square Concours de jeunes chefs d’orchestre Application deadline to be confirmed; registration Cardiff CF10 1FT SEMIFINALS (live rounds) 2 rue Morand subject to availability WALES Main Prize Preliminary Rounds: Four concerts June 25000 Besançon 44 303 080 2855 13-16, 2021, at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, Wales, United FRANCE SEMIFINALS (live rounds) email website Kingdom +33 38 12 50 585 Berlin, Germany, Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Open to singers of any nationality at the beginning Song Prize Preliminary Rounds: Four Recitals June email website Eisler” • Beijing, China, Central Conservatory of of their professional career, who will have probably 12-17, 2021, at Royal Welsh College of Music and Music • Montréal, Canada, Faculté de musique studied at a conservatoire of music or equivalent. Drama, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom ELIGIBILITY de l’Université de Montréal • Besançon, France, Entrants must have been born between June The Competition is open to candidates of Conservatoire à rayonnement régional du Grand 20, 1988 and June 11, 2003. See the rules on our FINALS (live rounds) any nationality under the age of 35. No prior Besançon website for more details. St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: qualifications are required. Main Prize Final: June 19, 2021 • Song Prize Final: FINALS (live rounds) ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice June 17, 2021 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Conducting Final rounds in Besançon, September 20-25, 2021 First round: Symphony • Second round: Concerto COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? and Symphony • Semifinal: Oratorio & Opera • Final: ✔ ✔ Semifinals Semifinals streamed Symphony and World Premiere ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Social links ✖ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions musicalamerica.com • February 2020 BLUE DANUBE/BARTÓK INTERNATIONAL OPERA CONDUCTING COMPETITION 2020 (8TH EDITION)
The Competition tests (over three rounds) how well Additional jurors a conductor works with a professional opera house’s Maestro Jozsef Horvath, Koloszvari Magyar Opera orchestra, choir, and soloists. The jury evaluates the House, Romania; Maestro Larry Newland, opera 12th Dublin International Piano Competition conductor’s ability to rehearse verbally & also guide and symphonic conductor, USA & Slovak Republic; and inspire those on stage through gesture and Emmanuel Siffert, Swiss opera and orchestra May 14 - May 25 2021 command non-verbally. Several operas in diverse conductor; conductor from Hungarian Opera/ Prize package worth over €100,000 styles are required. Budapest TBA Jury size 1 to 5 to include recitals in London and New York MAIN OFFICE Application fee Blue Danube Musikimpresario GmbH Deadline for Applications: before 1st November 2020 €50; deposit €325; balance €620 Strozzigasse 31 Age Limit: 18 - 30 years Application deadline May 15, 2020 A-1080 Wien (Vienna) Application notes PO Box No. 71, An Post, Bray, Co. Wicklow AUSTRIA Open until 52 conductors apply, are accepted, and tel: (+353) 1 - 2721523 email: [email protected] web: www.dipc.ie +4314054030; +436609441659; +436609441658 confirm the Competition places with deposits. email website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ELIGIBILITY The first two rounds take place with the Hungarian No age limit. Conductors must submit their CV; Opera Cluj in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, June 16-24, recent video/audio tapes of opera, symphonic, or 2020, with the entire opera company: orchestra, WILHELM STENHAMMAR other conducting; and complete the application choir, soloists, pianists, stage manager and stage form found on the Competition’s webpage. director. INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION Acceptance is based on training and experience appropriate for such a competition. FINALS (live rounds) The final (third) round takes place June 25-27, 2020, 2–10 June 2020 Norrköping Sweden ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Conducting with the Hungarian Opera Cluj in Cluj-Napoca, DETAILS Romania, along with the entire opera company: Jury: Nader Abbassi Cairo/Geneva, Georges Delnon Hamburg, Travel covered? No orchestra, choir, soloists, pianists, stage manager, Göran Gademan Gothenburg, Franziska Maria Kaiser Frequency Biennial and stage director. Copenhagen, Peter Mario Katona London, Olga Kondina Additional prizes Performances COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? St Petersburg, Karin Veres Gothenburg Management ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed Jury chair ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Maestro Nayden Todorov, director/music director Application open to February 15, 2020 of the Sofia Philharmonic & former director of State Opera Ruse/Bulgaria
Follow the competition live at: stenhammarcompetition.se
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions musicalamerica.com • February 2020 WILLIAM C. BYRD CANADIAN YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL ORGAN COMPETITION
The William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition is an DETAILS Competitors from around the world will be meeting DETAILS annual event at the Flint Institute of Music, Flint, MI. Travel covered? No in Montréal for the chance to win prizes totaling Travel covered? Yes The winner receives $6,000 and the opportunity to Frequency Annual over $95,000 USD in cash and other prizes. They Frequency Triennial perform with the Flint Symphony Orchestra. The First prize Less than $10,000 are immersed in an intensive program, with an First prize $10,000 to $50,000 second-place winner receives $2,500. Three other Smallest prize Less than $5,000 international jury and a supportive CIOC team, Smallest prize Less than $5,000 finalists receive $1,000. Additional prize Performances allowing them to leave Montréal as more confident Additional prizes Performances Jury chair(s) Not provided musicians. Management MAIN OFFICE Jury size 1 to 5 Recording c/o Flint Institute of Music Application fee $75 MAIN OFFICE Jury chair 1025 East Kearsley Street Application deadline January 12, 2021 1200, rue de Bleury Jean-Willy Kunz, artistic director, Canadian Flint, MI 48503 Application notes Montréal, QC H3B 3J3 International Organ Competition UNITED STATES The deadline is early January of each year of the CANADA Additional jurors 810-964-9399 Competition. 514-510-5678 Martin Baker (UK); Bernard Foccroulle (Belgium); email website email website Michael Kapsner (Germany); Rachel Laurin (Canada); SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ELIGIBILITY ELIGIBILITY William Porter (USA); Louis Robilliard (France); Dong- March 6, 2021: Winds & Brass • March 5, 2022: Voice Ill Shin (South Korea); Patricia Wright (Canada) Instrumentalists must not be older than 32 on the • March 4, 2023: Piano • March 2, 2024: Strings The CIOC is open to organists of all nationalities day of the Competition. For voice, the contestants born after October 21, 1985. To be admitted to Jury size 6 to 10 must not be older than 35. COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? the CIOC, candidates must send a completed Application fee $112USD ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed registration file bearing a postmark prior to January Application deadline January 31, 2020 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES ✔ ✔ Finals Finals streamed 31, 2020. Only complete files will be processed. The SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Piano • Strings • Voice • Winds • Brass First-prize winner of any previous CIOC competition Social links Organ performance: October 11-12, 2020 at Saint- is ineligible to apply. Jean-Baptiste Church in Montréal, QC, Canada ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Organ FINALS (live rounds) Organ performance: October 16, 2020 at Notre- Dame Basilica in Montréal, QC, Canada COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions musicalamerica.com • February 2020 CHINA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
From May 1-11, 2020, 24 violinists from around the world, aged between 16 and 28, will compete in Beijing for unmatched cash prizes. The Philadelphia Smallest prize $11,000 to $50,000 Orchestra will perform in the first phase Final Additional prize Performances Round, where six competitors will each play a major Jury chair violin concerto by Mozart. The Competition invites Bin Huang, director of the Orchestral Instruments prominent performers and pedagogues to form a faculty at the China Conservatory of Music distinguished jury panel. Additional jurors Giovanni Angeleri (Italy); Martin Beaver (Canada); MAIN OFFICE Sergej Krylov (Russia); Oleh Krysa (Ukraine); Lucie Room 302, Administration Building of China Robert (Canada); Victor Tretiakov (Russia); Almita Conservatory of Music Vamos (USA); Li-guang Wang (China) No.1 AnXiang Road Jury size 6 to 10 Chaoyang District Application fee None Beijing 100101 Application deadline January 31, 2020 CHINA Application notes +86 (010) 6488-7659 (Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm) Violinists should submit the application form and a email website performance clip to the Competition’s website by ELIGIBILITY January 31, 2020. More details of the registration Violinists must be between 16 and 28 years of age on can be obtained by contacting the Organizing the opening date of the Competition (May 1, 2020). Committee via email. The requirements of the performance clip for the SEMIFINALS (live rounds) prescreening round: May 5-7, 2020, Concert Hall, China Conservatory of • Must be recorded after January 1st, 2019. Music, Beijing, China • Must not be edited—the lens must be fixed, and FINALS (live rounds) the entire hand and face clearly visible. May 11, 2020, Concert Hall, China Conservatory of • The hand movement and sound must be Music & National Centre for the Performing Arts, consistent. Beijing, China • Camera’s automatic sound adjustment (such as AGC, ALC, etc.) should not be used. The sound in the COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? video should not be too loud or too soft or contain ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed any noise. ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Strings • Violin PAST COMPETITION WINNERS This is the first edition dedicated to violin. Past DETAILS Competition winner: Tony Siqi Yun, pianist. Travel covered? Yes Frequency Annual Social links First prize More than $50,000
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 10 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 CHRISTMAS CAROL CLEVELAND COMMISSION COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir announces DETAILS Fifteen days of exquisite performances, informative DETAILS its 11th annual Christmas Carol Commission Travel covered? Yes round-table discussions, and parties. Audiences Travel covered? Yes Competition as part of its commitment to the future Frequency Annual experience the best of the best and the First Prize Frequency Quadrennial of choral music. First prize Less than $10,000 winner takes home an award of $75,000, a Carnegie First prize More than $50,000 Jury chair(s) 1 to 5 Hall recital debut, a recording on the Steinway & Smallest prize $5,000 to $10,000 MAIN OFFICE Jury size Not provided Sons label, and the launch of a U.S. concert career. Additional prizes Performances 4600 Sunset Avenue, Lilly Hall 040A Application fee None Management Indianapolis, IN 46208 Application deadline May 31, 2020 MAIN OFFICE Recording UNITED STATES Application notes 20600 Chagrin Boulevard, Suite 1110 Jury chair 317-940-9057 Compositions must be in PDF format and emailed Shaker Heights, OH 44122 Matti Raekallio, The Juilliard School email website to [email protected]. No consideration UNITED STATES Jury size 6 to 10 will be given to entries received after the deadline. 216-707-5397 Application fee $150 ELIGIBILITY email website Composers 35 years of age or younger (as of Submitted materials will not be returned. Questions Application deadline November 26, 2019 December 1, 2019) who are U.S. citizens or legal may be emailed to [email protected]. ELIGIBILITY There is no entry fee, although a submission form FINALS (live rounds) residents may submit one composition. Submitted Open to pianists of any nationality between the August 7-8, 2020, Severance Hall, Cleveland, OH works must be original, unpublished, and have must accompany the composition. ages of 18 and 32. Eligibility for the Competition not been publicly performed; between three to FINALS (live rounds) is determined by the contestant’s age as of COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ ✔ five minutes long; written for SATB, mixed adult The winner will be notified by September 30, 2020, August 8, 2020. Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ ✖ choir; and may be a cappella or utilize keyboard and the selected composition will be performed Finals Finals streamed accompaniment. Text and language are at the ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir at its annual Social links discretion of the composer, and should be suitable Festival of Carols performances in Indianapolis, IN. for a Christmas/holiday performance. A cash prize of $2,500 plus travel and lodging for the ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Composition world premiere in December 2020 will be awarded to the winning composer. COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✖ Not open to the public Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 11 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 MTNA SIXTEENTH VAN CLIBURN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION 2020–21 Music Teachers National Association May 27 – June 12, 2021. Cash and career- Jury chair management prize packages are valued at over $2 Marin Alsop, music director, Baltimore Symphony STUDENT COMPETITIONS million, including concert tours, publicity packages Orchestra The MTNA student competitions provide educational experiences and recognize exceptionally and training, websites, and individualized artistic Additional jurors talented young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of musical excellence. Finalists compete in the and financial consultation. Widespread exposure for Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, pianist; Rico Gulda, pianist national finals at the MTNA National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, March 13–17, 2021. participants includes global media coverage; an HD, and head of artistic planning and dramaturgy, The competitions are divided into five age groups: Elementary (ages 5–10; composition only), fully produced webcast to millions internationally; Wiener Konzerthaus; Andreas Haefliger, pianist; Junior (ages 11–14), Senior (ages 15–18) and Young Artist (ages 19–26) and and large-scale media projects. Wu Han, pianist and co-artistic director of The Chamber Music (ages 18–29). Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Stephen MAIN OFFICE Hough, pianist; Anne-Marie McDermott, pianist, Competitions include Composition, Brass, Piano, String, Voice, Woodwind and Chamber Music. 201 Main Street, Suite 100 artistic director of the Bravo! Vail Music, and curator Fort Worth, TX 76102 for Chamber Music for the Mainly Mozart Festival; Elementary, Junior, Senior and Young Artist application deadline: September 16, 2020 UNITED STATES Gabriela Montero, pianist; Orli Shaham, pianist; Lilya Chamber Music application and video submission deadline: December 2, 2020 817-738-6536 Zilberstein, pianist email website For more information, visit www.MTNA.org. Jury size 6 to 10 ELIGIBILITY Application fee $125 Age 18 to 30 years old. First-prize winners of Application deadline October 15, 2020 previous Cliburn Competitions are not eligible SEMIFINALS (live rounds) th to compete. June 2-6, 2021, Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth, $20,000 First Prize TX TheNEW YORK INTERNATIONAL10 NY PIANO COMPETITION®PC ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano $10,000 Second Prize DETAILS FINALS (live rounds) $5,000 Third Prize Under the Auspices of June 8-12, 2021, Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth, The Stecher and Horowitz Foundation Travel covered? Yes $2,500 Fourth Prize Frequency Quadrennial TX June 21–26, 2020 First prize More than $50,000 COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? $2,000 Best performance Ages 16–22 of commissioned work Smallest prize Less than $5,000 ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed New York City Additional prizes Performances ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed $1,000 Finalist Award to each of Management • No elimination of any contestant the remaining contestants throughout the competition Recording Social links $6,000 Ensemble Prizes • Prizes and Awards totaling $60,000 • Concert and Recital Appearances
• Seminars and Master Classes FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: THE STECHER AND HOROWITZ FOUNDATION [email protected] 119 West 57th Street, Suite 1401 APPLICATION DEADLINE: www.thenyipc.org New York, New York 10019-2400, U.S.A. December 4, 2019 Facebook.com/NYIPC Tel: (+1) 212 - 581-8380
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 12 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 CLIBURN INTERNATIONAL CONCERT ARTISTS GUILD JUNIOR PIANO COMPETITION AND FESTIVAL VICTOR ELMALEH COMPETITION
May/June 2023 (specific date TBA). Quadrennial DETAILS CAG seeks to partner with young musicians who ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES international competition for 13- to 17-year- Travel covered? Yes exemplify artistic excellence and engagement with Piano • Strings • Voice • All solo instruments old pianists held in Dallas, TX, on the campus Frequency Quadrennial their audience, have an entrepreneurial spirit, and • Chamber ensembles of SMU and at Meyerson Symphony Center. All First prize $10,000 to $50,000 who will go on to create an impact in the world. performances webcast live and on demand. Final Smallest prize Less than $5,000 DETAILS round performances with the Dallas Symphony Jury chair(s) Not provided Prizes include: Management by CAG; New York Travel covered? No Orchestra. Jury size 6 to 10 showcase performance; professional career Frequency Annual Application deadline January 10, 2023 development and coaching. First prize Less than $10,000 MAIN OFFICE Additional prizes Performances 201 Main Street, Suite 100 FINALS (live rounds) MAIN OFFICE Management Fort Worth, TX 76102 June 2023 (specific date TBD), Meyerson Symphony 135 East 57th Street, 7th Floor Recording UNITED STATES Center, Dallas, TX. Three finalists perform full New York, NY 10022 Jury chair(s) Not provided 817-738-6536 concertos with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. UNITED STATES Jury size 6 to 10 email website Webcast live and on demand. 212-333-5200 Application fee $130 email website Application deadline April 15, 2020 ELIGIBILITY COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Application notes ✔ ✔ ELIGIBILITY Competitors must be 13 to 17 years of age. Semifinals Semifinals streamed The early bird deadline is March 31, 2020 (save $40 ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed The 2020 Competition is open to all instruments, ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano voice, and chamber ensembles. Please see CAG’s on the application fee) Social links website for the full list and eligibility requirements. SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Age limits (as of April 15, 2020): October 2020, New York City, exact dates and Solo instrumentalists: 30 • Instrumental ensembles locations TBD (including those with one singer): average age of 30 FINALS (live rounds) • Solo singers: 35 • Vocal ensembles: average age of 35 October 2020, New York City, exact dates and If you are over the age limit, you must include a locations TBD statement explaining why you are in the early stages COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? of your professional career. No individual member ✖ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed of an instrumental ensemble may be aged over 35, ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed and no individual member of a vocal ensemble may be aged over 40. Ensembles should have been in Social links existence with the same membership since at least April 15, 2019 (12 months prior to the Competition deadline). Please note: CAG represents solo singers for recitals, chamber music, and orchestral engagements only, but not for opera.
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 13 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 CONCOURS MUSICAL INTERNATIONAL DE MONTRÉAL–CMIM
The CMIM is one of the world’s most highly regarded DETAILS classical music competitions; one of only two Travel covered? Yes competitions in North America to be held annually Frequency Annual and present three disciplines (voice, violin, piano) First prize More than $50,000 in a three-year rotation. Prizes total $500,000 per Smallest prize Less than $5,000 cycle and winners benefit from many professional Additional prizes Performances opportunities. Disciplines: CMIM 2020: Piano; CMIM Management 2021: Voice; CMIM 2022: Violin. Recording Jury chair MAIN OFFICE Zarin Mehta, président of CMIM 305 Mont-Royal Avenue East Additional jurors TBD Montreal, QC H2T 1P8 Jury size 6 to 10 CANADA Application fee $117 (150$CAD) 514-845-4108 Application deadline December 13, 2019 email website Application notes ELIGIBILITY Piano 2020: November 15, 2019 • Voice 2021: Piano 2020 age limit: Born in 1990 or later • Voice Interested future applicants should refer to the 2021 age limit: Born in 1988 or later • Violin 2022 age Competition website. limit: Born in 1993 or later. SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Piano • Strings • Voice Piano 2020, May 7-8, 2020, 2 pm and 7:30 pm, Bourgie Concert Hall, Montréal, QC, Canada FINALS (live rounds) Piano 2020, May 12-13, 2020, 7:30 pm, Maison symphonique, Montréal, QC, Canada COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 14 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 THOMAS AND EVON COOPER COOPER-BING COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
This internationally recognized vocal competition DETAILS Oberlin Conservatory and The Cleveland Orchestra Additional jurors engages impressive young operatic talent from Travel covered? No present the 11th annual Thomas and Evon Cooper Angela Cheng, Alvin Chow, Stanislav Ioudenitch, all over the world. The Cooper-Bing Competition Frequency Annual International Competition at Oberlin, July 16-24, and Haewon Song, Oberlin Conservatory; Gabriel aims to encourage emerging artists and celebrate First prize $10,000 to $50,000 2020, featuring pianists ages 13 to 18. Cash prizes Kwok, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; the next generation of opera stars. Join us for an Smallest prize Less than $5,000 total $40,000, including a $20,000 first prize. Three Ewa Poblacka, Bydgoszcz Academy of Music, Poland; afternoon of outstanding singers as they compete Jury chair(s) Not provided finalists perform full concertos with The Cleveland Boris Slutsky, Peabody Conservatory and Yale for a top prize of $10,000. Jury size 1 to 5 Orchestra at Severance Hall. Note: The Competition School of Music; Alexander Korsantia, New England Application fee $50 alternates annually between piano and violin— Conservatory MAIN OFFICE Application deadline February 16, 2020 piano 2020, violin 2021. Jury size 6 to 10 55 East State Street Application fee $100 Columbus, OH 43215 FINALS (live rounds) MAIN OFFICE Application deadline April 15, 2020 UNITED STATES May 3, 2020, Southern Theatre, Columbus, OH Oberlin Conservatory 614-384-5699 77 West College Street SEMIFINALS (live rounds) email website COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Oberlin, OH, 44074 Semifinals, Oberlin Conservatory, Warner Concert ✖ ✖ Semifinals Semifinals streamed UNITED STATES Hall, Oberlin, OH ✔ ✖ ELIGIBILITY Finals Finals streamed 440-775-8044 Round 1: July 18-19, 2020, approximately 30 The Competition is open to professional and Social links email website Pianists/ 30-minute recitals pre-professional singers who have completed, or Round 2: July 20, 2020, 15-minute recitals by pianists are engaged in completing, a musical education ELIGIBILITY who advance from Round 1 suitable for the operatic stage. The 2020 Competition is open to pianists ages of 13 Concerto Round, July 21, 2020, Oberlin and 18, as determined by the competitor’s age as of Conservatory, Warner Concert Hall, Oberlin, OH—10 All applicants must be between 22-35 years of age July 16, 2020, and who have not won one of the top on May 3, 2020 • Past applicants (except those who pianists perform complete concertos with piano three prizes in a previous Cooper Competition, and accompaniment have exceeded the age limit) may re-enter as new who are not currently enrolled in Oberlin College. applicants. However, past finalists are not eligible to FINALS (live rounds) compete • Current full-time employees of the Opera ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano Recital Finals, July 22, 2020, Oberlin Conservatory, Columbus staff are ineligible to audition. DETAILS Warner Concert Hall, Oberlin, OH—six finalists ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice Travel covered? No perform 30- minute recitals Frequency Annual Concerto Finals, July 24, 2020, Severance Hall, First prize $10,000 to $50,000 Cleveland, OH—three finalists perform complete Smallest prize $5,000 to $10,000 concertos with The Cleveland Orchestra Jury chair COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Robert Shannon, Oberlin Conservatory, director of ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed Division of Keyboard Studies ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 15 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL THE GEORGE ENESCU PIANO COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
The Dublin International Piano Competition is DETAILS Intended as a natural extension of the George DETAILS an internationally renowned piano competition Travel covered? No Enescu Festival, the most important international Travel covered? No attracting participation of the most outstanding Frequency Triennial cultural event organized by Romania and a true Frequency Biennial young pianists in the world, adjudicated by a First prize €10,000 to €50,000 national cultural brand, George Enescu International First prize €10,000 to €50,000 distinguished jury. Smallest prize Less than €5,000 Competition recognizes, supports, and promotes Smallest prize €5,000 to €10,000 Additional prize Performances young talents worldwide, endorsing in this way the Additional prize Performances MAIN OFFICE Jury chair future golden generations of classical music. Jury chairs c/o Axa Insurance Building Dr. John O’Conor, artistic director, Dublin Dmitry Sitkovetsky, violin; Cristina Ortiz, piano; Dublin Road, Bray International Piano Competition MAIN OFFICE David Geringas, cello; Zygmunt Krauze, composition Co. Wicklow A98 DT89 Additional jurors Victoria Business Center Additional jurors IRELAND TBD; details will be posted on website Calea Victoriei, nr. 155, bl. D1, sc. 8, et. 2 See website for all jury members +353 (0)1 2721523 Jury size 11 or more Bucuresti cod 010073 Jury size 6 to 10 email website Application fee ROMANIA Application fee €200 plus online/accepted fee +40 21 – 311 02 00 The participation fee for Cello, Violin, and Piano ELIGIBILITY email website The Competition is open to professional pianists of Application deadline November 1, 2020 Competition is €100 and for the Composition all nationalities who were born before May 14, 2003, ELIGIBILITY Competition is €50/work of art SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Application deadline April 15, 2020 and after May 14, 1991. May 22-23, 2021, semifinals, Dublin, Ireland. George Enescu International Competition for Composition, Cello, Violin, and Piano is open to ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano Updates concerning the rounds and the venues SEMIFINALS (live rounds) will be posted on our website. participants of all nationalities, born after August 1, Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest, Romania 1987. No exception to this age limit is accepted. Cello: Sunday, September 6, 2020 • Violin: Saturday, FINALS (live rounds) September 12, 2020 • Piano: Friday, September 18, May 25, 2021, National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Piano • Strings • Composition 2020 COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? FINALS (live rounds) ✔ ✔ Semifinals Semifinals streamed Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest, Romania ✔ ✔ Finals Finals streamed Cello: Tuesday, September 8, 2020 • Violin: Monday, Social links September 14, 2020 • Piano: Sunday, September 20, 2020 COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 16 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 FISCHOFF NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION FISCHOFF NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION, cont’d
The 47th Fischoff Competition takes place May 8-10, ELIGIBILITY Additional jurors SEMIFINALS (live rounds) 2020, in South Bend, IN. The largest chamber music The Fischoff Competition is open to ensembles with Senior String Jurors: Daniel Avshalomov, viola; May 8-9, 2020, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, competition in the nation is open to ensembles three to six members. Senior division members must Norman Fischer, cello; Ani Kavafian, viola; University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN with three to six members and includes both senior be age 18-35. Junior division members must be 18 Seth Knopp, piano and junior divisions. $38,500 in prize money will be or younger. Rulebooks can be found on our website. Senior Wind Jurors: Deborah Chodacki, clarinet; FINALS (live rounds) awarded. Jeff Nelsen, horn; Michael Powell, trombone; May 10, 2020, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Debra Richtmeyer, saxophone University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN MAIN OFFICE Piano • Strings • Winds • Brass Junior String Jurors: Anthony Arnone, cello; 119 Haggar Hall COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Elinor Freer, piano; Rebecca McFaul, violin ✔ ✔ Notre Dame, IN 46556 DETAILS Semifinals Semifinals streamed Junior Wind Jurors: Velvet Brown, tuba; ✔ ✔ UNITED STATES Travel covered? No Finals Finals streamed Frequency Annual Matthew Levy, saxophone; Nancy Stagnitta, flute 574-631-0984 Jury size 11 or more Social links email website First prize $10,000 to $50,000 Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Application fee $125-$245 Additional prize Performances Application deadline February 26, 2020 Jury chair(s) Not provided
XII INTERNATIONAL JEAN SIBELIUS VIOLIN COMPETITION June 1-14, 2020 2020 HELSINKI | FINLAND Compose a 5-minute score CHAIR OF JURY Sakari Oramo in just 14 days! Grand prize winner THE HELSINKI PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Susanna Mälkki receives cash prize, THE FINNISH RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Dima Slobodeniouk future performances by the Atlanta Chamber Players, and an orchestral commission! PRIZES: I 30 000 € | II 20 000 € | III 15 000 € sibeliuscompetition.fi www.RapidoCompositionContest.com
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 17 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 FLEISCHMANN INTERNATIONAL TROPHY COMPETITION— INTERNATIONAL HANS GABOR BELVEDERE CORK INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL SINGING COMPETITION
Each year some of the finest amateur choirs are ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Choral music Since 1982 the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Jury chair selected to compete for the prestigious Fleischmann Singing Competition has been one of the world’s John Mordler, Opera Monte Carlo, artistic director International Trophy. The selected choirs will also be DETAILS best networked singing competitions with Additional jurors scheduled for a range of additional festival activities Travel covered? No qualifying rounds in more than 70 cities worldwide Michael Ajzenstadt (Israel); Dmitry Bertman (Russia); throughout the week including fringe concerts, Frequency Annual each year. The singers are judged by a jury Rosetta Cucchi (Ireland); Heribert Germeshausen church, and informal performances. First prize Less than €10,000 consisting of artistic and casting directors from the (Germany); Olga Kapanina (Russia); Peter Katona Smallest prize Less than €5,000 world’s most prestigious opera houses. (United Kingdom); Guntars Kirsis (Latvia; Christoph MAIN OFFICE Jury chair(s) Not provided Meyer (Germany); Guy Montavon (Germany); Cork International Choral Festival Jury size 1 to 5 MAIN OFFICE Hein Mulders (Germany); Björn Peters (Germany); Civic Trust House Application fee €300 International Hans Gabor Belvedere Henning Ruhe, Bayerische (Germany); Christina 50 Pope’s Quay, Cork Application deadline October 31, 2020 Singing Competition Scheppelmann (USA); Florian Scholz (Switzerland); IRELAND Application notes Seidengasse 32/3/52 Christoph Seuferle (Germany); Egils Silins (Latvia); +353 (0) 21 4215125 Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1070 Vienna Diane Zola (USA) email website October 31 of the preceding year. AUSTRIA Jury size 11 or more +43 681-110400572 Application fee ELIGIBILITY FINALS (live rounds) email website Open to any choir of international standing (except The Fleischmann International Trophy Competition €48 registration fee; €168 finals fee specifically children’s choirs) • Minimum 20/ of the Cork International Choral Festival is held ELIGIBILITY Application deadline Maximum 60 voices. annually over the five days preceding the first Singers (males/females) of all nationalities are Application deadlines vary according to the Monday in May in Cork City Hall. invited to enter the Competition, for Ladies and 70 qualifying rounds worldwide. Please see website A program of a cappella music consisting of either Gentlemen, born between 1988 and 2002. See the for details. three or four contrasting works whose total duration COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? rules on our website for more details. (actual singing) is between ten and 12 minutes, is ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed SEMIFINALS (live rounds) required. The music must be purely vocal without ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice Enrollment, First Rounds, Semifinals, and Finals the addition of percussion instruments. from May 30 – June 6, 2020, Dzintari Concert Hall, Social links DETAILS Jurmala, Latvia The contrasting program must represent an Travel covered? No historically balanced and coherent range of styles Frequency Annual FINALS (live rounds) and must include: First prize Less than €10,000 June 6, 2020, Finals Concert with orchestra, Dzintari Smallest prize Less than €5,000 Concert Hall, Jurmala, Latvia A piece composed before 1750 • An original work Additional prize Performances by a living composer • A work by a composer of the COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? choir’s native country. ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 18 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
Founded in 1939, the Geneva Competition is DETAILS one of the world’s leading international music Travel covered? No competitions. It aims at discovering, promoting, and Frequency Annual supporting young talented artists, giving them the First prize €10,000 to €50,000 necessary tools to launch an international career. Smallest prize Less than €5,000 Next competition is Cello: October 23-November 5, Additional prizes Performances 2020. Application deadline: April 30. Management Recording MAIN OFFICE Jury chair Concours de Genève Ivan Monighetti, Russia International Music Competition Additional jurors Boulevard de Saint-Georges 34 / CP 268 Lluis Claret, Andorra; Thomas Demenga, 1211 – Genève 8 Switzerland; Michaela Fukacová, Czech Republic; SWITZERLAND Ophélie Gaillard, France; Qin Li-Wei, China / +41 22 328 62 08 Australia; Shauna Rolston, Canada email website Jury size 6 to 10 ELIGIBILITY Application fee €220 Cello 2020: open to candidates born after Application deadline April 30, 2020 November 5, 1990. SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES November 2, 2020, Victoria Hall, Geneva, Piano • Strings • Voice • Flute • Oboe • Clarinet • Cello Switzerland, with the Geneva Chamber Orchestra • Viola • String quartet • Percussion • Composition FINALS (live rounds) November 5, 2020, Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland, with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 19 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 THE 17TH INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL MUSIC AWARDS EDVARD GRIEG PIANO COMPETITION
The Global Music Awards is a highly rated, well- DETAILS The Competition will take place at Troldhaugen, Jury chair known international music competition that Travel covered? No Grieg’s picturesque home in Bergen, Norway, Einar Steen-Nøkleberg, Norway celebrates independent musicians. Global Music Frequency Annual September 2020. Competitors will reside with host Additional jurors Awards is widely recognized by industry insiders as Jury chair families, and those who do not advance to the Noriko Ogawa, Japan; Uta Weyand, Germany; giving legitimacy to highly talented artists. “Global Thomas Baker, Ph.D., founder, Global Music Awards Second Round, Semi Final, or Final will perform at a Pablo Galdo, Spain; Alice Sara Ott, Germany; Lilya Music Awards is recognized as music’s golden seal of Additional jurors paid concert in the Bergen area. First prize: €30,000. Zilberstein, Germany; Christian Ihle Hadland, approval.” It is a competition strictly on merit. All jurors are Gold Medal winners. Jurors: Norway Charles Denler, composer, Emmy winner; Darlene MAIN OFFICE Jury size 6 to 10 MAIN OFFICE Koldenhoven, soprano/humanitarian; Ricky Kej, KODE Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen Application fee €100 7946 Ivanhoe Avenue, Suite 201 composer/conservationist, Grammy winner; Troldhaugveien 65 Application deadline April 20, 2020 La Jolla, CA 92037 Elisabet Franch, classical flute; John Daversa, N-5232 Paradis – Bergen Application notes UNITED STATES composer, Jazz Band; Amanda Abizaid, female NORWAY The application and application fee must arrive by 858-779-1420 vocalist; Melissa B, female vocalist; Malek Jandali, +47 55 92 29 92 23.59 CEST on April 20, 2020. email website composer/humanitarian; Berta Moreno, jazz email website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ELIGIBILITY instrumentalist; Tri Nguyen, Zither Master - Fusion; ELIGIBILITY Dorothy Hindman, composer; Thomas Baker, Ph.D., Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen, Bergen, Open to all artists and composers. Submissions The Competition is open to pianists of all Norway: may be of any genre, any length. We look for founder, Gold Music Awards nationalities born in the years 1987–2003. artists and composers with outstanding emotional Jury size 1 to 5 First round, solo piano, September 12-14, 2020 communication, the ability to transcend, to make Application fee $50 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano • Second round, solo piano, September 15, 2020 the listener experience something that is new and Application deadline November 15, 2019 DETAILS • Semifinal, solo piano & chamber music, September compelling. We want to be surprised and moved by Application notes Travel covered? No 16, 2020 what we hear. We want to be convinced that those See Quarterly entry deadlines Frequency Biennial FINALS (live rounds) we honor can really move an audience. The musical FINALS (live rounds) First prize €10,000 to €50,000 joy of artists we select must be infectious. We want Final, piano soloist with The Bergen Philharmonic No live rounds Smallest prize Less than €5,000 Orchestra (Edward Gardner, conductor), September the artist to remind us why we care about music so Additional prize Performances much in the first place. COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? 20, 2020, Grieg Hall, Bergen, Norway ✖ Not open to the public ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ ✔ Conducting • Piano • Strings • Voice • Album • Band Social links Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ ✔ • Chamber Music • Classical • Classical Crossover Finals Finals streamed • Experimental • Jazz • Indie Country & Pop Social links • Instrumental • Live Performance • Operatic Music • Original Score/Sound Track Movie & TV • R&B & Soul • Sound Editing/Sound Mixing • Symphonic Music • Vocal Group • World Music & Beats
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 20 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 MICHAEL HILL 2020 HILTON HEAD INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
The world’s best emerging violin talent in the DETAILS First Prize: $10,000; return engagement with Hilton DETAILS world’s most intriguing location. Prize package Travel covered? Yes Head Symphony Orchestra and other performance Travel covered? Yes valued at over NZ$100,000; first prize NZ$40,000 Frequency Biennial opportunities Frequency Triennial plus recording and recital tour in 2022. Personalized First prize $10,000 to $50,000 First prize $10,000 to $50,000 professional development program; airfares Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Second Prize: $5,000 • Third prize: $3,000 Smallest prize Less than $5,000 provided to 16 quarter finalists Additional prizes Performances • Fourth Prize: $2,000 • Fifth Prize: $1,000 • Sascha Additional prize Performances Recording Gorodnitzki Memorial Prize: $1,000 • Peter Takács Jury chair MAIN OFFICE Jury chair Hon. Chris Finlayson Classical Sonata Prize: $1,000 Doug Humpherys, chair of the piano department at 157 Crummer Road, Grey Lynn Jury size 6 to 10 MAIN OFFICE Eastman School of Music Auckland 1021 Application fee $150 Additional jurors NEW ZEALAND 7 Lagoon Road, Suite 100 Application deadline November 1, 2020 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 Christopher Elton, professor emeritus, Royal +64 21 434-442 Academy of Music; Miyoko Lotto, Manhattan School email website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) UNITED STATES 843-842-5880 of Music; Yong Hi Moon, piano faculty, Peabody Queenstown Memorial Centre Rounds I and II, Institute; Matti Raekallio, The Juilliard School ELIGIBILITY June 4-7, 2021. Solo and piano accompanied work email website Violinists between the ages of 18-28. Jury size 1 to 5 performed by 16 quarter finalists. ELIGIBILITY Application fee $135 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings Auckland Concert Chamber Rounds III, June 10- Pianists ages 13-17. Application deadline September 30, 2019 11, 2021. Mozart string quintets and show pieces ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano SEMIFINALS (live rounds) performed by six semifinalists. Monday-Thursday, March 9-12, 2020, Rounds I and II FINALS (live rounds) (non-elimination), Hilton Head, SC June 13, 2021, Auckland Town Hall; concertos FINALS (live rounds) performed with orchestra by top three finalists Saturday, March 14, 2020, finals (Round III), First COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head, SC ✔ ✔ Semifinals Semifinals streamed COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ ✔ Finals Finals streamed ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed Social links ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 21 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 IMA HOGG COMPETITION IMA HOGG COMPETITION, cont’d
This national Competition is open to musicians ages current or recent (within two years of graduating) ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES SEMIFINALS (live rounds) 16–26 who play standard orchestral instruments undergraduate or graduate music students Piano • Strings • All standard orchestral instruments May 28, 2020, Houston, TX: A field of 10 semifinalists and piano. Ten contestants will be selected to intending to pursue a musical career. Those (all standard orchestral instruments and piano) will perform in the Semi-Finals. Four finalists will currently holding orchestra positions are ineligible DETAILS be selected to perform two concerti. advance to perform with the Houston Symphony to participate. Former first- or second-prize Travel covered? Yes in the Finals to determine the winner of the Grace winners of the Ima Hogg Competition are also Frequency Annual FINALS (live rounds) Woodson Memorial First Prize. ineligible to participate. Please feel free to email First prize $10,000 to $50,000 May 30, 2020, Houston, TX: Four finalists will [email protected] if Smallest prize Less than $5,000 perform a full concerto live with the Houston MAIN OFFICE you have a question about your eligibility. Additional prize Recording Symphony to determine the winner of the $25,000 615 Louisiana Street, Suite 102 Jury chair(s) Grace Woodson Memorial First Prize. Houston, TX 77002 Citizenship: The Ima Hogg Competition is open Houston Symphony artistic personnel UNITED STATES to citizens or lawful permanent residents of the Additional jurors TBD COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ ✖ 713-238-1432 United States, or to foreign students currently Jury size 1 to 5 Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ ✔ email website enrolled in a U.S. college, university, or conservatory. Application fee $100 Finals Finals streamed Non-U.S. residents must provide the necessary travel Application deadline January 17, 2020 Social links ELIGIBILITY documentation if selected as a semi-finalist. Application notes Contestants must be between the ages of 16 Application deadline each year is in early January and 26 as of May 28, 2020. Contestants must be
The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir announces its HOHYHQWK annual Christmas Carol Commission Competition as part of its commitment to the future of choral music.
Submitted works must be original, unpublished, and have not been publicly performed; between three The world’s best emerging violin talent in the world’s DQGȴYHPLQXWHVORQJ ZULWWHQIRU6$7%PL[HGDGXOW most unique location. choir; and may be a cappella or utilize keyboard Airfares provided for semi-finalists. DFFRPSDQLPHQW7H[WDQGODQJXDJHDUHDWWKH Application deadline 1 November. discretion of the composer, and should be suitable for violincompetition.co.nz a Christmas/holiday performance.
MICHAEL HILL INTERNATIONAL $OOVXEPLVVLRQVPXVWEHUHFHLYHGQRODWHUWKDQ VIOLIN COMPETITION 11:59 p.m. (EST), May 31, . 2019 competitors Angela Chan and Matthias Well JUNE 2021 NEW ZEALAND Photo: Sheena Haywood For more information, visit indychoir.org
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 22 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 HONENS THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION 2022
Canada’s Honens International Piano Competition DETAILS Applicants send video recordings; quarter-finalists Jury chair(s) takes place every three years and awards $100,000 Travel covered? Yes send video recordings; 15 semi-finalists perform No single chairman. Chairmanship by College of (CAD) and an Artist Development Program valued at Frequency Triennial recitals live in Hong Kong; six finalists perform live in Jurors a half-million dollars. Honens prepares its Laureates First prize More than $50,000 chamber and concerto settings in Hong Kong. Additional jurors TBD for the rigors and realities of professional careers Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Jury size 11 or more in music and creates opportunities for growth and Additional prizes Performances MAIN OFFICE Application fee $150 exposure. Management Room 1909, 19th Floor, St. George’s Building Application deadline January 31, 2022 Recording No.2 Ice House Street, Central Application notes MAIN OFFICE Jury chair(s) Not provided HONG KONG Applications to reach the office of the Competition 1170-105 12 Avenue SW Jury size 6 to 10 +852 9027 1429 any time October 1, 2021 – January 31, 2022. Should Calgary, AB, T2G 1A1 Application fee $125 (CAD) email website the applicant have problems meeting this deadline, CANADA Application deadline October 31, 2020 ELIGIBILITY he/she should contact our office to agree on an 403-299-0130 acceptable alternative date. email website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Pianists from all over the world who were born on or October 14-22, 2021, Calgary, AB, Canada later than January 1, 1992 SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ELIGIBILITY ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano October 10-17, 2022: Hong Kong City Hall Concert Pianists of all nationalities, age 20 to 30 on October FINALS (live rounds) Hall. Fifteen semifinalists perform two recitals per 14, 2021, with the exception of past Honens October 21-22, 2021, Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts DETAILS day, at 17:00 and at 20:00 respectively, except on Laureates and professionally managed artists, may Commons, Calgary, AB, Canada Travel covered? Yes October 17 when the last recital will take place at apply. COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Frequency Triennial 17:00. ✔ ✔ First prize $10,000 to $50,000 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano Semifinals Semifinals streamed FINALS (live rounds) ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Smallest prize $5,000 to $10,000 Additional prizes Performances Part I: October 19-20, 2022, Chamber Music: three Social links Recording finalists each day, Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall Part II: October 22-23, 2022, Concertos: three finalists each day, Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 23 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 INTERNATIONAL TELEKOM INTERNATIONAL BEETHOVEN COMPETITION BONN ART SONG COMPETITION STUTTGART
The International Telekom Beethoven Competition DETAILS The International Art Song Competition Stuttgart is DETAILS Bonn focuses on works by Beethoven from every Travel covered? Yes intended for Lied duos. The Competition, which will Travel covered? No phase of his creative life. The picture of the master’s Frequency Biennial be live-streamed in its entirety, offers young singers Frequency Biennial music is rounded off with compositions by his First prize €10,000 to €50,000 and pianists an international platform where they First prize €10,000 to €50,000 predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. Smallest prize €5,000 to €10,000 can immerse themselves in art song and present it Smallest prize Less than €5,000 Additional prizes Performances to a large audience. Additional prize Performances MAIN OFFICE Management Jury chair ITBCB c/o Beethovenfeste Bonn gGmbH Jury chair Prof. Pavel Gililov MAIN OFFICE Brigitte Fassbaender (voice), Germany Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 3 Jury size 6 to 10 Internationale Hugo-Wolf-Akademie Additional jurors D-53113 Bonn Application fee €50 für Gesang, Dichtung, Liedkunst e.V. Stuttgart John Mark Ainsley (voice), Great Britain; Olaf Bär GERMANY Application deadline May 14, 2020 Jägerstraße 40 (voice), Germany; Soile Isokoski (voice), Finland; email website 70174 Stuttgart Graham Johnson (piano), Great Britain; Wolfram SEMIFINALS (live rounds) GERMANY ELIGIBILITY Rieger (piano), Germany; Birgid Steinberger (voice), Telekom Zentrale, Friedrich Ebert Allee 140, 53113 email website Austria The International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn, Germany Bonn is open to pianists from all nations, as well ELIGIBILITY Jury size 6 to 10 as stateless persons (16 to 32 years old). Pupils FINALS (live rounds) The International Art Song Competition Stuttgart Application fee €100 of a jury member at the time of application, or December 10, 2021: Telekom Zentrale, Friedrich 2020 is open to singers and pianists of all nations Application deadline June 15, 2020 those who have been pupils of a jury member Ebert Allee 140, 53113 Bonn, Germany born after December 31, 1986. SEMIFINALS (live rounds) for at least one year during the three years December 11, 2021: Telekom Forum, ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice Second round: Thursday, October 1, 2020, Concert preceding the Competition, are not eligible to Landgrabenweg 151, 53227 Bonn, Germany Hall, State University of Music and Performing Arts, enter. Also ineligible are prizewinners (1st, 2nd Stuttgart, Germany and 3rd prizes) of the past Telekom Beethoven COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ ✔ Competitions. A selection commission will choose Semifinals Semifinals streamed FINALS (live rounds) ✔ ✔ max 28 participants from all the completed Finals Finals streamed Saturday, October 3, 2020, Concert Hall, State registration forms received; the selected entrants Social links University of Music and Performing Arts, Stuttgart, will be invited to the first round in Bonn. Germany ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 24 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL CONDUCTING COMPETITION ROTTERDAM MUSIC COLOGNE 2020
In the summer of 2021, the International Additional jurors This year’s discipline will be a singer’s competition Jury chairs Conducting Competition Rotterdam will see the Michel van der Aa; Roberta Alexander; Anja with the main focus opera/operetta. This important Prof. Kai Wessel, chairperson; M.Hofstetter; Prof. light of day. It offers a completely new format with Bihlmaier; Deborah Borda; Martyn Brabbins; international music competition is devoted to Kusiewicz; M. Lipovsek; Prof. Lindner; Dr. B. Meyer; J. multiple rounds during which young conductors Jonathan Darlington; Sian Edwards; Iván Fischer; promoting young professional music talents, and Mannov get a chance to work with numerous orchestras, Jane Glover; Ara Guzelimian; Antony Hermus; Ton serves as a stepping stone for young artists on their Additional jurors such as Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Koopman; Sophie de Lint; James MacMillan; Wayne way to an international career. Prof. Kai Wessl; Prof. Mechthild Georg Budapest Festival Orchestra. Marshall; Kenneth Montgomery; Alexei Ogrintchouk; Jury size 6 to 10 Franck Ollu; Lahav Shani; Ed Spanjaard; Maxim MAIN OFFICE Application fee €100 MAIN OFFICE Vengerov; Benjamin Wallfisch; Elmar Weingarten; Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln Application deadline May 15, 2020 Ganzenmarkt 14 Xian Zhang Unter Krahnenbäumen 87 Application notes 3552 ES Utrecht Jury size 11 or more 50668 Köln Applications need to be filled out by May 15, 2020. NETHERLANDS Application fee €150 GERMANY Applicants under consideration will notified by July +31 306966144 Application deadline January 7, 2020 +49 17698317400 15, 2020. email website email website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ELIGIBILITY There is no elimination in this Competition; all five ELIGIBILITY Concert Hall, Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, The Competition will be open to professional candidates in the selection rounds will perform in Besides technical virtuosity, the Competition Köln, Germany conductors of all nationalities who are at least 23 the entire Competition. A prize will be awarded aims to award contestants who wish to find new September 29-30, 2020, first round • October 1, years and maximum 35 years of age at the start of to the best specialist per round. In addition, one interpretative approaches. Along with a high level 2020, second round the Competition (May 21, 2021). conductor will receive the Grand Prix for the best of artistic achievement, the Competition requires all-rounder. artists to present themselves in a self-confident FINALS (live rounds) ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Conducting manner, to be prepared, innovative, and to act as a October 2, 2020, with the WDR Radio Orchestra, DETAILS FINALS (live rounds) versatile artistic personality. Cologne Concert Hall Finals to be held at De Doelen Rotterdam, The Prize winners’ concert: October 3, 2020, 7:00 pm, Travel covered? Yes ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice Frequency Triennial Netherlands with the WDR Radio Orchestra Cologne First prize More than €50,000 May 21-23, 2021, Round I: Contemporary • May DETAILS WDR large concert studio (Großer Sendesaal), Smallest prize €5,000 to €10,000 25-27, 2021, Round II: Historically informed practice Travel covered? No Wallrafplatz 5, 50667 Köln, Germany Additional prizes Performances • May 28-29, 2021, Round III: Concerto • May 24, Frequency Triennial 29-30, 2021, Round IV: Proms (outdoors) • June 1-2, COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Management First prize €10,000 to €50,000 ✔ ✖ 2021, Round V: Opera • June 3-4, 2021, Round VI: Semifinals Semifinals streamed Recording Smallest prize Less than €5,000 ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Jury chair(s) Not provided Large Symphonic Additional prize Performances COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Social links ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 25 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL VOCAL COMPETITION VIOLIN COMPETITION OF INDIANAPOLIS ’S-HERTOGENBOSCH
Hailed by musicians, media, and critics as one Jury chair Sole classical vocal competition in the Netherlands DETAILS of the world’s most important competitions for Jaime Laredo, jury president that involves opera and oratorio, as well as art Travel covered? Yes launching a professional career in violin, the Additional jurors song for singer/ pianist duos. Much attention Frequency Annual Indianapolis will celebrate its 11th quadrennial Jury TBA at a later date paid to 20th-century and contemporary music. First prize €10,000 to €50,000 competition in September 2022, searching the Jury size 6 to 10 Finals with symphony orchestra, master classes, Smallest prize Less than €5,000 globe for the finest young talents and propelling Application fee $125 media training, feedback from jury members, Additional prizes Performances them onto the concert scene. Application deadline February 28, 2022 career development, travel refund possible, Recording accommodation at host families. Jury chair Pål Christian Moe MAIN OFFICE SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Additional jurors 32 East Washington Street, Suite 1320 September 2022 (specific dates TBD), Eugene and MAIN OFFICE Deborah Polaski, soprano; Vesselina Kasarova, Indianapolis, IN 46204 Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, Indianapolis, IN Prins Bernhardstraat 8 mezzo-soprano; Yue Liu, bass; Hein Mulders, UNITED STATES 5211 HE ’s-Hertogenbosch * All dates and venues subject to change. Intendant Oper, Philharmonie, Essener 317-637-4574 NETHERLANDS Philharmoniker; Rosemary Joshua & Damia email website FINALS (live rounds) +31 736900999 Carbonell, Dutch National Opera Amsterdam; email website ELIGIBILITY • Classical Finals (with East Coast Chamber Vincent Boussard, stage director We invite applications from violinists of all nationali- Orchestra): September 2022 (exact dates TBD), ELIGIBILITY Jury size 6 to 10 ties who will be at least 16 years of age and younger Howard L. Schrott Center for the Performing Arts at The IVC is open to candidates of all nationalities. Application fee than 30 years of age at the time of the Competition, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN Participants wishing to take part must have €40 (prelims) - €140 (main competition) and who are prepared for a concert career. • Finals (with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra): completed conservatory training or have reached Application deadline August 20, 2020 September 2022 (Exact dates TBD), Hilbert Circle an equivalent level of training. Age limit: born on ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings Theatre, Indianapolis, IN FINALS (live rounds) December 7, 1987 or later. All candidates must be at November 28-December 6, 2020, voice (opera | DETAILS * All dates, venues, and ensembles subject to change. least 18 years of age. oratorio division), ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands Travel covered? No ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Piano • Voice Frequency Quadrennial COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ ✔ First prize More than $50,000 Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ ✔ Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Finals Finals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Additional prizes Performances Social links Social links Management Recording
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 26 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 JENSEN FOUNDATION JINJI LAKE VOCAL COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION 2020
The Jensen Foundation auditions 100 of America’s DETAILS This Competition is a new and exciting event of DETAILS most promising young opera singers and chooses Travel covered? No international caliber in the Asia Pacific Region held Travel covered? Yes 12 to perform in its Finals Competition. Singers Frequency Annual in Suzhou, a 2500-year-old city hailed as “Venice of Frequency Triennial compete for more than $40,000 in awards, including First prize $10,000 to $50,000 the Orient,” and is dedicated to promoting the art First prize $10,000 to $50,000 $15,000 for First Place. Smallest prize Less than $5,000 of piano at the most professional level for its local Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Jury chair(s) Not provided communities and global friends. Additional prize Performances MAIN OFFICE Jury size 1 to 5 Jury chair(s) Not provided 220 North Tryon Street Application fee $25 MAIN OFFICE Jury size 6 to 10 Charlotte, NC 28202 Application deadline March 15, 2020 No.1 Guanfeng Street Application fee None UNITED STATES Suzhou Industrial Park 215028 Application deadline September 10, 2020 704-641-4691 SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Jiangsu email website Auditions take place May 11-14, 2020, Baruch CHINA FINALS (live rounds) Performing Arts Center, New York, NY +86 512 62899593 December 5, 2020, 6:30 pm, Suzhou Jinji Lake ELIGIBILITY email website Concert Hall, with the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra To be eligible to compete, you must: FINALS (live rounds) accompanying the six finalists in concertos under NOT be a previous first-, second-, or third-place Finals take place May 16, 2020, Baruch Performing ELIGIBILITY the baton of conductor Philipe Aiche. award winner of the Jensen Foundation Vocal Arts Center, New York, NY The Jinji Lake International Piano Competition is Competition • Be a permanent legal resident of the open to pianists of all nationalities between the COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? U.S. • Be between the ages of 25 and 35 • Submit COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ages of 16 and 28. Applicants must have been ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✖ ✖ a résumé that demonstrates active pursuit of a Semifinals Semifinals streamed born after November 26, 1992, and on or before ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed ✔ ✖ career in opera • Not be a past or current recipient Finals Finals streamed November 26, 2004. of a contract for a principal role with an OPERA Social links America Budget Level I company or its international ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano equivalent • Submit a completed application online by Sunday, March 15, 2020. ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 27 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 JOSEPH JOACHIM JOHANSEN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION HANNOVER FOR YOUNG STRING PLAYERS (AGES 13-17)
35 participants to be chosen by section leaders of DETAILS Total of $67,000 in prizes, with equal prizes for each DETAILS NDR Radiophilharmonie for a chance to showcase Travel covered? Yes instrument. The JIC is funded by a charitable trust Travel covered? No diversity in a total of five rounds. International Frequency Triennial established by Anna Storch Johansen, who wanted Frequency Triennial partners for chamber music and orchestra First prize €10,000 to €50,000 to encourage young musicians with significant prize First prize $10,000 to $50,000 rounds, esteemed jury of musicians from different Smallest prize Less than €5,000 awards at a time when they need it most. Smallest prize Less than $5,000 disciplines. Over 20 of Europe’s foremost musical Additional prizes Performances Additional prize Performances event representatives will be awarding debuts. Recording MAIN OFFICE Jury chair(s) Not provided Jury chair(s) Not provided 9202 Whitney Street Additional jurors MAIN OFFICE Additional jurors Silver Spring, MD 2090 Judith Ingolfsson, violin; Ralph Fielding, viola; Bion Stiftung Niedersachsen Ana Chumachenco; Suyoen Kim; David Takeno; UNITED STATES Tsang, cello Sophienstr. 2 Donald Weilerstein; Carolin Widmann; Eleonore 301-825-5515 Jury size 1 to 5 30159 Hannover Büning; Robert Levin; Andrew Manze (from the email website Application fee $130 GERMANY semi-final round on); Christine Schäfer ELIGIBILITY Application deadline December 1, 2020 +49 511 9905432 Jury size 6 to 10 Application notes email website Students of violin, viola, or cello, ages 13 through Application deadline March 25, 2021 17 years. Eligible contestants may not be younger The next Competition will take place March 17-20, 2021. ELIGIBILITY SEMIFINALS (live rounds) than 13 or older than 17 on the final day of the Age 16 to 32. Leading a chamber orchestra on October 4-5, Competition. A copy of the applicant’s birth SEMIFINALS (live rounds) certificate or passport is required as proof of ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings 2021, and recital with one movement from a string March 18-19, 2021, Washington, DC quartet on October 6-7, 2021 age. Applicants must not be under professional management. FINALS (live rounds) FINALS (live rounds) March 20, 2021, Washington, DC With NDR Radiophilharmonie on October 9, 2021 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 28 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 KOCIAN VIOLIN COMPETITION William C. Byrd The Competition takes place in Ústí nad Orlicí, DETAILS Young Artist Competition Czech Republic, the birthplace of the violin virtuoso Travel covered? No and composer Jaroslav Kocian. The aim of the Frequency Annual Saturday, March 6, 2021 Competition is to support young talented violinists, First prize Less than €10,000 Auditions 8am ~ 5pm to create opportunities to meet, and to compete Smallest prize Less than €5,000 Finals 7pm with support and assistance of professional Additional prizes Performances Winds Flint Institute of Music international juries. Recording Flint, Michigan Jury chair MAIN OFFICE MgA. Pavel Hůla (CZ), AMU Prague Sponsored by the St. Cecilia Society, ZUŠ J. Kociana Additional jurors & DQ$I¿OLDWHRIWKH)OLQW,QVWLWXWHRI0XVLF Smetanova 1500 Jan Fiser (CZ), concertmaster of Prague First Prize - $6,000 and a performance with the 562 01 Ústí nad Orlicí Philharmonia; MgA. Shizuka Ishikawa (JP), violin Flint Symphony Orchestra CZECH REPUBLIC virtuoso; Doc. Jozef Kopelman (SK), VSMU Bratislava; Brass Second Prize - $2,500 +420 736 413 530 MgA. Hana Kotkova (CH), Conservatorio della Plus Three $1,000 Finalist Prizes email website Svizzera italiana; Petr Matejak (CZ), violin virtuoso; Application deadline will be January 12, 2021 ELIGIBILITY Prof. Ivan Straus (CZ), AMU Prague Competitor must be under 16 years of age Jury size 6 to 10 www.ByrdArtists.com and be capable of playing the compulsory Application fee €90 composition for his/her category. For 2020 these Application deadline February 29, 2020 compositions are: 1st category (born in 2010 or SEMIFINALS (live rounds) after): Antonín Dvořák: Sonatina in G Major, Op. Compulsory composition: May 5-9, 2020, ZUŠ 100, 1st movement • 2nd category (born in 2009 Jaroslava Kociana, Smetanova 1500, Ústí nad Orlicí, or 2008): Jaroslav Kocian: Spring Song, Op .19, No. 2 69th ARD
Czech Republic Trio Piano Voice Quintet Wind Oboe Trumpet Piano Percussion Viola Clarinet Flute Violoncello Bassoon Trombone Harp Horn French Duo Piano Quartet String Violin Bass Double Organ Guitar for Violin and Piano • 3rd category (born in 2007 or International Music Competition 2006): Bohuslav Martinů: Arabesques, Nos. 4, 6, and FINALS (live rounds) Munich 7 • 4th category (born in 2005 or 2004): Josef Suk: May 5-9, 2020, ZUŠ Jaroslava Kociana, Smetanova Un poco triste and Burlesque (from Four Pieces for 1500, Ústí nad Orlicí, Czech Republic. The Violin and Piano, Op. 17). contestants will present competition program of their choice within the time limit. ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings Quartet COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed August 31 to September 18, 2020 ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
Application deadline:
March 31, 2020 www.ard-musikwettbewerb.de Piano Trombone Flute String
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 29 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 LEEDS INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION LOTTE LENYA COMPETITION
“The Leeds” has launched some of the greatest DETAILS Founded in 1998 to celebrate the centenary of DETAILS pianists in living memory and offers a warm Travel covered? No Lotte Lenya’s birth, the Competition recognizes Travel covered? Yes Yorkshire welcome to all its pianists! Rounds take Frequency Triennial talented young singer/actors who are dramatically Frequency Annual place in Berlin, Singapore, New York, and Leeds, First prize $10,000 to $50,000 and musically convincing in wide-ranging theatrical First prize $10,000 to $50,000 hosted by an international performer-led jury. Smallest prize Less than $5,000 repertoire, with a focus on the works of Kurt Weill. Smallest prize Less than $5,000 World-leading career support includes artist Additional prizes Performances Jury chair(s) Not provided representation and a release with Warner Classics. Management MAIN OFFICE Jury size 1 to 5 Recording 7 East 20th Street Application fee None MAIN OFFICE Jury chair Imogen Cooper New York, NY 10003 Application deadline January 21, 2020 Leeds International Piano Competition Additional jurors UNITED STATES University of Leeds Adam Gatehouse, artistic director; see website for 212-505-5240 SEMIFINALS (live rounds) 169b Woodhouse Lane full jury details email website March 11-12, 2020, New York, NY Leeds LS2 9JT UNITED KINGDOM Jury size 6 to 10 ELIGIBILITY FINALS (live rounds) +44 113 244 6586 Application fee $165 Open to singer/actors of all nationalities, ages 19-32. May 2, 2020, Rochester, NY email website Application deadline October 31, 2020 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✖ ✖ ELIGIBILITY SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ ✔ 20-29 years old. September 12-14, 2021, Great Hall, University of Finals Finals streamed Leeds, United Kingdom ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano Social links FINALS (live rounds) September 17-18, 2021, Town Hall, Leeds, United Kingdom COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 30 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 THE GERDA LISSNER FOUNDATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LIEDERKRANZ FOUNDATION LISZT COMPETITION UTRECHT
The Gerda Lissner Foundation in association with DETAILS The Liszt Competition actively presents, develops, DETAILS the Liederkranz Foundation holds an Annual Travel covered? No and promotes piano talents from around the world. Travel covered? Yes International Vocal Competition in New York City Frequency Annual The starting point is the triennial International Frequency Triennial that is open to men and women 21 to 35 years First prize $10,000 to $50,000 Liszt Piano Competition, held at TivoliVredenburg, First prize €10,000 to €50,000 old, regardless of nationality. A special Wagnerian Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Utrecht. What sets the Liszt Competition apart Smallest prize €5,000 to €10,000 Division exists within the Competition, with an Jury chair from other competitions is the extensive Career Additional prizes Performances age range of 30-45 years old. Winners receive Stephen De Maio, president Development Program that it offers to prize winners. Management awards ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 based upon Additional jurors TBD Recording placement. Winners concert: Zankel Hall, Carnegie Jury size 6 to 10 MAIN OFFICE Jury chair Alexander Rinnooy Kan Hall, May 17, 2020, 3:00 pm. Repertoire once Application deadline February 26, 2020 Ganzenmarkt 14 Additional jurors submitted cannot be changed. Application notes 3512 GD Utrecht Idil Biret; Andrea Bonatta; Frederic Chiu; Janina Applications must be received by Wednesday, THE NETHERLANDS Fialkowska; Nino Gvetadze; Leslie Howard; Cyprien MAIN OFFICE February 26, 2020, 3:00 pm EST by email and must +31 030 6966144 Katsaris; Igor Roma 15 East 65th Street be typed. Submission of the application does not email website Jury size 6 to 10 New York NY 10065 guarantee an audition or grant. All application Application fee €150 UNITED STATES ELIGIBILITY PDFs must be submitted with typed responses. Age 20 to 29. Application deadline January 5, 2019 212-826-6100 Handwritten applications will not be accepted. email website ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano SEMIFINALS (live rounds) SEMIFINALS (live rounds) March 17-18, 2020, Recital 1, Hertz hall ELIGIBILITY Liederkranz Foundation TivoliVredenburg • March 19-20, 2020, Recital 2, General Division: Applicants must be between 6 East 87th Street, New York NY chamber music, Hertz hall TivoliVredenburg • March 20 and 30 years of age to be eligible for the General Preliminaries: March 30-31, April 1-2 21-22, 2020, Recital 3, Hertz hall TivoliVredenburg Competition. No language requirement • Wagnerian • Wagnerian Preliminaries: April 3 Division: Applicants must be between 30 and 45 FINALS (live rounds) years of age to be eligible for the Competition. FINALS (live rounds) March 25, 2020 Solo final, main hall, Language must be in German. April 4, 2020, both divisions, Liederkranz TivoliVredenburg Foundation, New York, NY March 28, 2020 Finals with the Radio Philharmonic ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice Orchestra & award ceremony, main hall, COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? TivoliVredenburg ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✖ Finals ✖ Finals streamed COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 31 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 LYON INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION THE MAHLER COMPETITION
Member of the WFIMC. More than 1100 chamber DETAILS The Competition is one of the most important DETAILS artists have taken part in the CIMCL since 2004. Travel covered? No events of its kind anywhere in the world. It has Travel covered? Yes Broadcast on France musique radio and streaming Frequency Annual attracted entries from more than 1,600 young Frequency Triennial on NoMadMusic. A large audience follows the First prize €10,000 to €50,000 conductors of all nationalities. Only 65 candidates First prize €10,000 to €50,000 Competition in the most beautiful halls of Lyon city Smallest prize Less than €5,000 have been invited to Bamberg and of those barely Smallest prize €5,000 to €10,000 (Opéra, Auditorium, Université Hall, Conservatories). Additional prize Performances 12 have made it to the finals. Additional prizes Performances Jury chair(s) Not provided Management MAIN OFFICE Additional jurors MAIN OFFICE Jury chair(s) TBD 11 place Tobie Robatel Nora Chastain, violin, Zürich, American; Itamar Bamberger Symphoniker–Bayerische Additional jurors 69001 Lyon Golan, piano, Paris, Israeli; Liana Gourdjia, violin, Staatsphilharmonie Marina Mahler; Jakub Hruša; Bertrand de FRANCE San Sebastian, Russian; Diana Ketler, piano, London, Mussstrasse 1 Billy; Juanjo Mena; Barbara Hannigan; Helmut +33 6 52 14 80 45 Latvian; Régis Pasquier, violin, Paris, French; Georges D-96047 Bamberg Lachenmann; Deborah Borda; Martin Campbell- email website Pludermacher, piano, Paris, French; Ulf Wallin, violin, GERMANY White; John Carewe; Ara Guzelimian; Marcus Rudolf Berlin, Swedish +49 951 964 7100 Axt; Martin Timphus ELIGIBILITY email website All nationalities, artists under 30 years old. Jury size 6 to 10 Jury size 11 or more Application fee €150 ELIGIBILITY Application deadline November 30, 2019 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Application deadline January 15, 2020 Young conductors not older than 35 years on SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Piano • Strings • Voice • Trio violin, cello and piano Application notes January 1, 2020. • String Quartet • Duo violin and piano • Duo voice Deadline is approximately in January of every year. July 2-3, 2020, conducting, Konzerthalle, Bamberg, and piano • Duo cello and piano • Woodwind ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Conducting Germany Quintet SEMIFINALS (live rounds) April 30, 2020, violin and piano duo, CNSMD FINALS (live rounds) (Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de July 4, 2020, conducting, Konzerthalle, Bamberg, danse de Lyon), Lyon, France Germany FINALS (live rounds) COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ ✔ May 2, 2020, violin and piano duo, Town Hall, Lyon, Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ ✔ France Finals Finals streamed COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Social links ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 32 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 MALKO COMPETITION FOR YOUNG CONDUCTORS MALKO COMPETITION FOR YOUNG CONDUCTORS, cont’d
The Malko Competition is the Danish National ELIGIBILITY Jury size 6 to 10 COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Symphony Orchestra’s international competition Open for young conductors of all nationalities Application fee €50 ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed for conductors. It has been held every three years between 18 and 35 years of age as of July 6, 2021. Application deadline November 18, 2020 ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed since 1965. The goal is to identify and bring out those great young musical talents who will one day ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Conducting SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Social links June 10, 2021 grace the podiums of leading orchestras all over DETAILS the world. Travel covered? No FINALS (live rounds) MAIN OFFICE Frequency Triennial June 12, 2021 DR-Byen First prize €10,000 to €50,000 Emil Holms Kanal 20 Smallest prize Less than €5,000 DK -0999 Copenhagen Additional prize Performances DENMARK Jury chair email website Fabio Luisi, chairman, principal conductor of The Danish National Symphony Orchestra
2021 Wigmore Hall International StringQuartet Competition
MAY 3, 2020
T O P P R I Z E $10,000 Application Deadline: February 16, 2020 COOPERBINGCOMPETITION.ORG
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 33 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 FOURTH INTERNATIONAL METROPOLITAN OPERA ÉVA MARTON SINGING COMPETITION NATIONAL COUNCIL AUDITIONS
Éva Marton International Singing Competition DETAILS The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions DETAILS is an unmissable opportunity and door onto the Travel covered? No is a program designed to discover promising young Travel covered? No international opera scene. Members of the jury Frequency Biennial opera singers and assist in the development of their Frequency Annual are looking for artists who seem to be capable of First prize €10,000 to €50,000 careers. The Auditions take place in 40 Districts and First prize $10,000 to $50,000 realizing what Éva Marton achieved, in a career that Smallest prize €5,000 to €10,000 12 Regions throughout the United States, Canada, Smallest prize Less than $5,000 was founded on an incredible level of hard work and Additional prize Performances and Mexico. Jury chair learning. Jury chair Ms. Éva Marton Melissa Wegner, executive director, MONC Additional jurors MAIN OFFICE Jury size 6 to 10 MAIN OFFICE Anatoli Goussev; Peter Mario Katona; Miguel Lerín; Metropolitan Opera Application fee $30 Secretariat of the International Éva Marton Singing Andrea Meláth; Szilveszter Ókovács National Council Auditions Application deadline January 1, 2021 Competition Jury size 6 to 10 30 Lincoln Center Plaza Application notes Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music New York, NY 10023 The deadlines vary by District. Please visit our 8 Liszt Ferenc Square Application fee €200 UNITED STATES website for more information. Budapest 1061 Application deadline March 16, 2020 212-870-4515 HUNGARY email website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) +36 1 4624600 / 139 SEMIFINALS (live rounds) March 22, 2021 (district and region dates vary) email website September 6-11, 2020, Budapest, Hungary ELIGIBILITY See eligibility requirements. FINALS (live rounds) ELIGIBILITY FINALS (live rounds) March 28, 2021 The contest is open to singers from all nationalities September 12-13, 2020, Budapest, Hungary ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice aged minimum 18 years on the opening day of the COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✖ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed Competition and born on or after September 6, ✔ ✔ Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed 1988, for female candidates • September 6, 1985, for ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed male candidates. Social links Social links ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 34 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 MTNA NATIONAL NATIONAL CHOPIN STUDENT COMPETITIONS PIANO COMPETITION OF THE UNITED STATES
The MTNA National Student Competitions are ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES The National Chopin Piano Competition is open Additional jurors the most successful and prestigious student Piano • Strings • Voice • Composition • Brass to pianists holding U.S. citizenship, born between Ning An, USA, winner of 2000 National Chopin competitions in the country. The purpose of the • Woodwind • Chamber Music 1990 and 2004, demonstrating professional & 2003 William Kapell Int’l Piano Competitions; Music Teachers National Association performance level of performance. Held every five years, the Edward Auer, USA, prizewinner of the 1965 competitions is to provide educational experiences DETAILS National Competition closely follows the rules of Int’l Chopin Competition; Dean Kramer, USA, for students and to recognize exceptionally talented Travel covered? No the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw. prizewinner of 1975 International Fryderyk Chopin young artists and their teachers in their pursuit of Frequency Annual Winners in Miami are automatically accepted to Piano Competition in Warsaw; Jon Nakamatsu, musical excellence. Smallest prize Less than $5,000 compete in Warsaw. USA, gold medalist at 1997 Van Cliburn Int’l, 1995 Jury chair(s) Not provided National Chopin Competitions; Ewa Poblocka, MAIN OFFICE Jury size 1 to 5 MAIN OFFICE Poland, prizewinner of the 1980 International 1 West 4th Street, Suite 1500 Application fee $50 to $120 1440 79th Street Causeway, Suite 117 Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw; Cincinnati, OH 45202 Application deadline September 16, 2020 Miami, FL 33141 Antonio Pompa-Baldi, USA, winner of the 1999 UNITED STATES Application notes UNITED STATES Cleveland International Piano Competition; 888-512-5278 Chamber Music Competitions applications and 305-868-0624 Katarzyna Popowa-Zydron, Poland, acclaimed piano email website Division video uploads are due Wednesday, email website pedagogue and jury member of top competitions; December 2, 2020. ELIGIBILITY ELIGIBILITY Margarita Shevchenko, Russia/USA, prizewinner All entrants must be a U.S. citizen or must hold a U.S. SEMIFINALS (live rounds) The National Chopin Piano Competition is open to of the Cleveland and Chopin International Piano visa or permanent residence (green card), which is The MTNA Student Competitions consist of three pianists holding U.S. citizenship (native born and Competitions valid throughout the competition year. levels: State Competition, Division Competition, and naturalized) born between 1990 and 2004. Jury size 6 to 10 National Finals. Application fee $100 All entrants must study with a teacher who is: (1) a ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano Application deadline November 4, 2019 member of MTNA; or (2) has paid the Nonmember FINALS (live rounds) DETAILS Application notes Teacher Fee of $150. MTNA active membership dues March 20-24, 2021, the 2021 MTNA National This competition is held every five years. must be paid before submission of the application Conference, Atlanta, GA Travel covered? No to avoid the $150 nonmember fee. Frequency Quinquennial SEMIFINALS (live rounds) COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? First prize More than $50,000 February 26-27, 2020, Miami-Dade County Elementary Division (ages 5-10) • Junior Division ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed Smallest prize $5,000 to $10,000 Auditorium, Miami, FL (ages 11-14) • Senior Division (ages 15-18) • Young ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed Additional prizes Performances Artists Division (ages 19-26) • Chamber Music Recording FINALS (live rounds) (average age of ensemble must be 18-26). Social links Jury chair February 29-March 1, 2020, Miami-Dade County Kevin Kenner, faculty member of the Frost School of Auditorium, Miami, FL *All ages as of January 1, 2019 Music at the University of Miami COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 35 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SINGING COMPETITIONS
MAIN OFFICE 9957 Moorings Drive, Suite 401 Jacksonville, FL 32257 UNITED STATES 904-992-9101 NATS ARTIST AWARDS (NATSAA) Email website The biennial NATS Artist Awards Competition is designed to assist singers prepared to launch a NATS ART SONG COMPOSITION AWARD professional career. The NATS Art Song Composition Award program’s purpose is to stimulate the creation of quality ELIGIBILITY vocal literature through the cooperation of singer Applicant must be at least 21 but not more than 35 and composer. The performance of the first-place years of age as of September 13, 2021; either the winning composition will be premiered in 2022. applicant or his/her teacher must be a current full or NATSAA associate member of NATS in good standing prior to NATS Artist Awards ELIGIBILITY September 13, 2021. Competition for Singers Competition is open to any composer. The work Frequency Biennial More than $50,000 in prizes; launching must be: a song cycle, group of songs, or extended Cash prizes More than $50,000 careers of classical singers since 1955 single song approximately 15 minutes in length; for Application deadline September 13, 2021 single voice and single instrument; to a text written in English, for which the composer has secured SEMIFINALS and FINALS (live rounds) copyright clearance; composed within the last two Early January, 2022, New York, NY (date TBD) years (after January 1, 2019). The first national competition Frequency Annual NATS NATIONAL STUDENT AUDITIONS for the music theater soloist Originally for classical repertoire only, auditions A competition to stimulate the with more than $14,000 in prizes Cash prizes More than $5,000 creation of quality vocal literature A national round of evaluation Application deadline December 1, 2020 have been expanded to music theater and (in even- with more than $35,000 in prizes numbered years) the Hall Johnson Spirituals. LIVE NATS NATIONAL MUSIC THEATER COMPETITION JOURNAL As the first national Competition for music theater ELIGIBILITY LEARNING Student singers advance through NATS Regional OF SINGING soloists, winners are finding success on Broadway, CENTER national tours, and theaters across the country. Auditions, which take place at varying times The official journal of NATS A dynamic database of voice throughout the year. since 1944, with a complete and voice science resources ELIGIBILITY Frequency Annual digital library on nats.org for all levels of learning All singers age 20-28 as of September 15, 2021. Cash prizes More than $35,000 View session recordings online Frequency Biennial Application deadline April 10, 2020 from past NATS conferences and workshops Cash prizes More than $14,000 Application deadline September 15, 2021 SEMIFINALS and FINALS (live rounds) June 26-27, 2020, in Knoxville, TN, as part of the SEMIFINALS and FINALS (live rounds) 56th NATS National Conference. Early January, 2022, New York, NY (date TBD) WWW.NATS.ORG Social links NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SINGING
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 36 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 WALTER W. NAUMBURG FOUNDATION MICHAEL LUDWIG NEMMERS PRIZE VOCAL COMPETITION IN CONCERT REPERTOIRE IN MUSIC COMPOSITION
This Competition is open to singers of every DETAILS In 2003, the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Composition nationality. First prize includes $25,000, two fully Travel covered? No at Northwestern University established the Michael subsidized New York recitals, and a commissioned Frequency Quinquennial Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition, a DETAILS work, composer TBD. Second prize is $15,000 and First prize $10,000 to $50,000 biennial award honoring classical music composers Travel covered? Yes third prize is $10,000. Smallest prize $5,000 to $10,000 of outstanding achievement. Northwestern Frequency Biennial Additional prize Performances sponsors five Nemmers Prizes, the others in the First prize More than $50,000 MAIN OFFICE Jury chair Dawn Upshaw fields of economics, mathematics, medical science, Additional prize Performances 130 Claremont Avenue Jury size 11 or more and Earth sciences. Jury chair(s) Not provided New York, NY 10027 Application fee $125 Jury size 1 to 5 UNITED STATES Application deadline March 9, 2020 MAIN OFFICE Application deadline January 31, 2020 917-493-4040 Application notes Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University email website Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Obtain applications here. ✖ for the Musical Arts Not open to the public ELIGIBILITY SEMIFINALS (live rounds) 70 Arts Circle Drive Social links The competitors may not be under the age of May 17-19, 2020, New York, NY, preliminary round Evanston, IL 60208 20 and more than 35 years of age. (You must not • May 20, 2020, New York, NY, semifinal round UNITED STATES have reached your 36th birthday on or before • Both rounds are closed to the public 847-491-7575 May 17, 2020.) email website FINALS (live rounds) ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice Friday, May 22, 2020, New York, NY ELIGIBILITY Composers must be nominated, preferably by COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? recognized authorities in the field of classical ✖ ✖ Semifinals Semifinals streamed music, via a letter to the Selection Committee. ✔ ✖ Finals Finals streamed The Prize is open to any living classical composer without regard to citizenship or institutional affiliation. Anonymous nominations will not be accepted. Nominators may nominate any number of candidates, submitted by email to [email protected] from the nominator’s professional affiliation. Former or present members of the Northwestern University faculty and employees of the Chicago Symphony are not eligible. The prize includes a cash award of $100,000 and a performance by the CSO and requires a two- to three-week residency at Northwestern (the weeks may be non-consecutive).
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 37 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 NEUE STIMMEN NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL SINGING COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
Neue Stimmen is a unique platform designed to DETAILS A first in the world and a unique feature of the DETAILS promote the careers of young opera singers. Travel covered? Yes NYIPC, no contestant is eliminated throughout the Travel covered? No Aside from discovering talents, we offer longterm Frequency Biennial Competition, to be held June 21-26, 2020, in New Frequency Biennial advice and provide personalized support. Singers First prize €10,000 to €50,000 York City. Cash awards: First Prize $20,000; Second First prize $20,000 are offered to participate in concerts, master Smallest prize Less than €5,000 Prize $15,000; Third Prize $5,000; Fourth Prize Smallest prize Less than $5,000 classes, workshops, and career-coaching seminars. Additional prizes Performances $2,500; Ensemble Prizes $6,000; Best Performance of Additional prize Concert appearances Former participants benefit from our international Management Commissioned Work $2,000; Finalist Award to each Jury chair Not provided partner network. Recording of the remaining contestants $1,000. Jury size 6 to 10 Jury chair Application fee $150 MAIN OFFICE Dominique Meyer, director La Scala, Milan MAIN OFFICE Application deadline December 4, 2019 Bertelsmann Stiftung Additional jurors The Stecher and Horowitz Foundation Carl-Bertelsmann-Str. 256 Sophie de Lint, director Dutch National Opera; 119 West 57th Street, Suite 1401 FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS (live rounds) 33311 Gütersloh Sophie Joyce, casting director Opéra National de New York, NY 10019 First Round: June 22-23, 2020 GERMANY Paris; Bernd Loebe, general director Opera Frankfurt; UNITED STATES Second Round: June 23-24, 2020 +49 52418181466 Elisabeth Sobotka, general director Bregenz Festival; 212-581-8380 email website email website FINALS (live round) Evamaria Wieser, artistic director Salzburg Festival Concerto: June 25, 2020 ELIGIBILITY and European casting consultant Lyric Opera ELIGIBILITY Singers of any nationality • Women up to 28 years of Chicago Open to pianists of all nationalities. Applicants must ENSEMBLE ROUND (live round) age, born on or after October 10, 1992 • Men up to Jury size 6 to 10 be between the ages of 16-22 during the time of the One-Piano, Four Hands: June 26, 2020 30 years of age, born on or after October 10, 1990. Application fee None Competition. COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Application deadline March 15, 2021 ✔ ✔ ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano First Round First Round streamed SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ✔ Second Round ✔ Second Round Preliminary rounds from April to August 2021 streamed in more than 20 cities worldwide, including ✔ Final Round ✔ Final Round streamed Amsterdam, Berlin, Cape Town, Chicago, Frankfurt, ✔ Ensemble Round ✔ Ensemble Round Gothenburg, Kiev, London, Moscow, Munich, New streamed York, Riga, Toronto, Vienna, Warsaw, Yokosuka Social links FINALS (live rounds) Final round in Gütersloh, Germany, October, 2021 COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 38 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 THE 10TH OSAKA INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION
The Osaka International Chamber Music DETAILS Competition has two sections in 2020: Section One First prize $10,000 to $50,000 for String Quartet and Section Two for Piano Trio Smallest prize $5,000 to $10,000 and Piano Quartet. Additional prizes Performances Recording MAIN OFFICE Jury chair 1-3-50 YTV1F, Shiromi Chuo-ku Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi (chairman)/Cello, director Osaka 540-8510 general, Suntory Foundation for Arts JAPAN Additional jurors 81-6-6947-2184 Violin: Martin Beaver, Yi-Wen Jiang, Kazuki Sawa. email website Viola: Monika Henschel, Mai Motobuchi. Cello: ELIGIBILITY Alasdair Tait. Piano: Vincent Coq, Eckart Heiligers, Ensembles of musicians of any nationality whose Shigeo Neriki members are 35 years old or younger. Jury size 6 to 10 Application fee None ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Piano • Strings Application deadline October 10, 2019 SEMIFINALS (live rounds) May 18, 2020 for Section Two and May 19, 2020 for Section One; both at Izumi Hall, Osaka, Japan FINALS (live rounds) May 21, 2020, for Section Two, and May 22, 2020, for Section One, both at Izumi Hall, Osaka, Japan COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 39 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 PIANOARTS PLOWMAN CHAMBER MUSIC COMPETITION
PianoArts semifinalists perform solo recitals and Jury chair Since 2006, The Plowman Chamber Music DETAILS partner with a Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Semifinal and final competition chair: Competition (Plowman) has provided an Travel covered? No violinist or cellist to rehearse and perform duo Pavlina Dokovska, piano chair at the Mannes School opportunity for aspiring chamber musicians to Frequency Biennial recitals. They speak about music and rehearse of Music perform live in front of an audience and a panel First prize $10,000 to $50,000 their presentations with a speaking coach. Finalists Additional jurors of judges for cash awards totaling over $10,000, Smallest prize Less than $5,000 perform complete concertos with the MSO. Alan Chow, Eastman School of Music; Boris Slutsky, including the $5,000 Grand Prize. See website for Additional prize Performances Numerous prizes include PianoArts Fellowships and Peabody Institute and Yale School of Music. more details. Jury chair Amit Peled (Peabody) performances for diverse audiences. Preliminary Video Competition Chair: Lydia Artymiw, Additional jurors University of Minnesota School of Music MAIN OFFICE TBD. Past judges have included: Dale Clevenger, MAIN OFFICE Jury size 6 to 10 Plowman Chamber Music Competition horn (Indiana University); Sergei Babayan (Juilliard, 2642 North Summit Avenue Application fee $150 c/o Odyssey Cleveand); Joel Krosnick (Juilliard), Peter Wiley Milwaukee, WI 53211 Application deadline February 9, 2020 First Baptist Church (Curtis) UNITED STATES Application notes 1112 East Broadway Jury size 1 to 5 414-962-3055 The preliminary round video submission is due Columbia, MO 65201-4910 Application fee $40 per person email website on February 23, 2020. The jury will select up to 10 UNITED STATES Application deadline February 12, 2021 semifinalists to perform in Milwaukee from May 27 573-864-6921 Application notes ELIGIBILITY email website For pianists, ages 16-21, of any nationality, living or through June 2. DVD application is February 12, 2021; February 19 is the Late Deadline that must be accompanied with studying full time in North America. SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ELIGIBILITY Open to instrumental ensembles of three to six an additional fee. ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano Ten pianists perform two 45-minute non-eliminating competition recitals: a solo recital on May 29 and players. Members must be interested in, or already SEMIFINALS (live rounds) DETAILS a collaborative recital May 31 with a partner from pursuing a career in music. However, ensembles March 27, 2021, First Baptist Church, Columbia, MO Travel covered? No the MSO. Semifinalist will also perform the first with management as of March 27, 2021 are not Frequency Biennial movement of a concerto with a second pianist and eligible. The ensemble may not have more than one FINALS (live rounds) First prize $10,000 to $50,000 speak about their performance. piano. Piano is also the only keyboard instrument March 28, 2021, Missouri Theatre, Columbia, MO Smallest prize Less than $5,000 eligible in the Competition. FINALS (live rounds) COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Additional prize Performances ✔ ✖ Three pianists perform complete concertos live The Plowman Chamber Music Competition is unable Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ ✖ with the MSO on June 2. Finalists will rehearse the to accommodate ensembles that require more Finals Finals streamed than five minutes to set-up and tear-down time concerto three times: with the conductor, with a Social links chamber ensemble, and with the full orchestra. (i.e., numerous percussion instruments, complex electronic set-ups, etc.). The ensemble is responsible COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? for arranging for, and/or bringing their own ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed instruments and music. ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Social links Piano • Strings • Strings • Woodwinds • Brass • Percussion • Piano
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 40 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 PRINCESS ASTRID QUEEN ELISABETH COMPETITION— INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION BELGIUM-BRUSSELS
Established in 1953, this biennial competition DETAILS Established in 1951 on the initiative of Her Majesty DETAILS hosted by the Trondheim Symfoniorkester & Opera Travel covered? No Queen Elisabeth of Belgium as a successor to the Travel covered? Yes rotates between violin and conducting. Talented Frequency Biennial Eugène Ysaÿe Competition, the Queen Elisabeth Frequency Annual international candidates are invited to be assessed First prize €10,000 to €50,000 Competition very soon became one of the leading First prize More than €50,000 by an internationally distinguished jury. Princess Smallest prize Less than €5,000 international competitions for violinists, pianists, Additional prizes Performances Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, is patron of the Competition. Additional prize Performances singers, and, as of 2017, cellists. Recording Jury chair Jury chair Mr. Gilles Ledure MAIN OFFICE Julian Rachlin, Lithuanian violinist and conductor MAIN OFFICE Jury size 11 or more Kjøpmannsgata 46 Additional jurors Rue aux Laines, 20 Application fee €100 Trondheim Eldbjørg Hemsing, Norwegian violin soloist; Arvid B-1000 Brussels Application deadline December 9, 2020 NORWAY Engegård, Norwegian violinist and conductor; David BELGIUM Application notes +47 90093139 Pickard, British, director BBC Proms; Sofia Jaffé, 32 2 213 40 50 Deadline is for the 2021 Cello session. email website German violinist and professor; Kyung Sun Lee, email website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ELIGIBILITY Korean violinist and professor ELIGIBILITY Jury size 6 to 10 Venue: Flagey, first round and semifinal. Piano 2020: The Competition is open to violinists of all The Queen Elisabeth International Music May 4-16 • Cello 2021: May 3-15 • Voice 2022: May 1-6 nationalities below the age of 30 at the time of the Application fee €50 Competition of Belgium is holding sessions Competition. The candidate must give mandatory Application deadline May 15, 2020 for pianists, violinists, singers, and cellists. This FINALS (live rounds) information such as name, date of birth, nationality, SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Competition is for musicians who have completed Venue: Centre for Fine Arts. Piano 2020: May 25-30 address, and e-mail, as well as upload a CV, Trondheim, Norway—recital concerts with pianist, their training and who are ready to embark upon • Cello 2021: May 24-29 • Voice 2022: May 12-14 biography, artist picture and two application videos. open to the public an international career. The Competition is open The Competition is not open to previous winners to candidates of all nationalities, who are aged at COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? First round, Monday, October 12, 2020; Second ✔ ✔ of the first prize. By submitting an application, the least 18 and who have not yet reached the age Semifinals Semifinals streamed round, Tuesday, October 13, 2020 ✔ ✔ candidate automatically agrees to the Competition of 30 for the instrumental sessions and 32 for the Finals Finals streamed rules and regulations and is obliged to follow these FINALS (live rounds) voice Competition. Social links throughout the Competition. Thursday, October 14, 2020, Trondheim, Norway— public concert with Trondheim Symfoniorkester ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Piano • Strings • Voice ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings & Opera in Olavshallen at 7:30 pm and award ceremony COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 41 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 THE QUEEN SONJA JOHANSEN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
International The Queen Sonja International Music Competition DETAILS Competition is a prestigious competition, held every two years Travel covered? No for Young String Players for singers from around the world. The Competition Frequency Biennial (Ages 13–17) is a platform for providing career opportunities for First prize €10,000 to €50,000 young singers and acts as a stepping stone to the Smallest prize Less than €5,000 professional music world for young artists. Jury chair Birgitta Svendén, CEO, the Royal Opera, Stockholm, MAIN OFFICE Sweden Universitetsgaten 14 Additional jurors TBD 0164 Oslo Jury size 6 to 10 NORWAY Application fee €90 +47 22 99 21 05 Application deadline April 1, 2021 email website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ELIGIBILITY Sunday, August 15, 2021, the Norwegian Academy Singers of all nationalities born in 1989 or later of Music, Oslo, Norway are eligible to apply for the 2021 Competition. All applicants must apply using the electronic FINALS (live rounds) application form, which will be available on the Friday, August 20, 2021, the Norwegian National Competition’s website. The application must include Opera & Ballet, Oslo, Norway video footage of two self-chosen operatic arias of contrasting styles. Attention should be paid to COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ ✔ sound and picture quality. The combined recordings Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ ✔ should not be more than 10 minutes long. Finals Finals streamed Additionally, applicants must provide a repertoire Social links list consisting of 10 works, a copy of their passport, 10 SEMIFINALISTS an updated CV, and a digital photo. $30,000 in prizes • PianoArts fellowships ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice Numerous Concert Engagements Finalists perform complete concertos with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
COMPETITION FOR AGES 16-21 APPLICATION May 27 - June 2, 2020 February 9, 2020
For more details please visit pianoarts.org
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 42 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 RAPIDO!® THE 16TH ARTHUR RUBINSTEIN A 14 DAY COMPOSITION CONTEST INTERNATIONAL PIANO MASTER COMPETITION
Rapido!® A 14-Day Composition Contest was DETAILS Competition Dates: May 5-21, 2020 DETAILS founded by the Atlanta Chamber Players & Travel covered? Yes Stage I: Recitals (35-40 minutes) • Stage II: Recitals Travel covered? Yes The Antinori Foundation in 2009 to promote Frequency Biennial (50-60 minutes) • Final Stage (three concerts): Frequency Triennial new chamber music compositions. The contest First prize Less than $10,000 Chamber Music, Classical Concerto, Grand First prize $10,000 to $50,000 challenges composers of all ages to submit an Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Concerto • Over $120,000 in cash prizes • Free hotel Smallest prize Less than $5,000 original chamber work of four to six minutes Additional prize Performances accommodation • Partial coverage of flight expenses Additional prize Performances composed in just 14 days, following a specific theme Jury chair • A practice piano in each hotel room. Jury chair and instrumentation. Robert Spano, music director, Atlanta Symphony Prof. Arie Vardi, pianist, conductor, and piano MAIN OFFICE Orchestra pedagogue 9 Bilu Street MAIN OFFICE Additional jurors TBD Jury size 11 or more Tel Aviv 6522214 PO Box 20013 Jury size 1 to 5 Application fee $150 ISRAEL Atlanta, GA 30325 Application fee $40 Application deadline October 1, 2019 972-3-6856684 UNITED STATES Application deadline May 31, 2020 email website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) 404-594-3445 Application notes Tel Aviv Museum of Art, 27 Shaul Hamelech email website Registration period: April 27 – May 31, 2020 ELIGIBILITY Boulevard, Tel Aviv, Israel ELIGIBILITY Contest period (for writing and submitting the The Competition is open to pianists of all The contest is open to composers of any age and composition): June 1-14, 2020 nationalities. Age limit: 18-32 years of age. FINALS (live rounds) Charles Bronfman Auditorium, 1 Huberman Street, level of experience who are residents or full-time SEMIFINALS ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano Tel Aviv, Israel student residents of the U.S. Virtual judging occurs summer/fall 2020 COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Mixed Ensemble FINALS (live rounds) ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed January 2021, Atlanta, GA ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Social links ✖ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 43 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 SCHADT STRING COMPETITION SCHMIDT VOCAL COMPETITION
Begun in 1997 following a bequest to the DETAILS The Schmidt Vocal Competition is a program of DETAILS Allentown Symphony Association from Edwin H. Travel covered? No Schmidt Vocal Arts held at 17 regional locations Travel covered? No and Leigh W. Schadt, the Competition alternates Frequency Biennial across the country. The day-long Competition Frequency Annual biannually between violin and cello. The first First prize $10,000 to $50,000 affords singers an opportunity to perform live in First prize Less than $10,000 prize includes a cash award of $12,000 and a Smallest prize Less than $5,000 front of an audience for the chance to win cash Smallest prize Less than $5,000 solo concerto engagement with the Allentown Additional prize Performances awards/scholarships; it also offers master classes Jury chair(s) Not provided Symphony Orchestra. Jury chair with premier artists. Jury size 1 to 5 Diane Wittry, music director Application fee $45 MAIN OFFICE Jury size 1 to 5 MAIN OFFICE Application deadline 23 North 6th Street Application fee $75 6 East 5th Street, Suite 406 Varies by regional locations Allentown, PA 18101 Application deadline December 17, 2021 Covington, KY 41011 Application notes UNITED STATES Application notes UNITED STATES Application deadlines are specific to each 610-432-7961 x206 Violin: December 17, 2021 • Cello: December 15, 2023. 513-783-2583 competition. The application deadline is two weeks email website email website before the specified location.Please check website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) for further details. ELIGIBILITY March 1, 2020, cello, Miller Symphony Hall, ELIGIBILITY Age 18-30 (must be 18 or not have reached Allentown, PA Participants must be high school sophomores, FINALS (live rounds) 31st birthday by Monday, December 18, 2017) juniors, or seniors, and recommended by a voice or Please see website for all dates and locations. • Must be a current resident or citizen of the U.S. FINALS (live rounds) choral teacher. Proof of citizenship is required. If not a citizen, a March 1, 2020, cello, Miller Symphony Hall, COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? copy of your Visa or Green Card is required with Allentown, PA ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed entry • Competition is not open to prior first-place ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed winners of the Schadt String Competition. COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✖ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed Social links ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 44 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 SCHOENFELD INTERNATIONAL STRING COMPETITION
Schoenfeld International String Competition was founded in 2013 in honor of the violinist Alice Schoenfeld and the cellist Eleonore Schoenfeld, Jury chairs both legendary performers and pedagogues. As a Jean-Jacques Kantorow, violin; Arto Noras, cello member of WFIMC, the Schoenfeld aims to build a Additional jurors multifaceted platform for gifted violinists, cellists, Violin Division: Dmitry Sitkovetsky (USA/Russia); and chamber music performers all over world. Michael Frischenschlager (Austria); Lina Yu (China); Chamber music ensembles include: string quartet Jinjoo Cho (USA/Korea) (two violins, viola, cello); piano trio (violin, cello, Cello Division panel: Anne Gastinel (France); Young- piano); and piano quartet (violin, viola, cello, piano). Chang Cho (Korea); Mats Lidström (Sweden); Marek Szpakiewicz (USA/Poland) MAIN OFFICE Jury size 11 or more Los Angeles, CA Application fee UNITED STATES $135 (violin and cello divisions); $200 (chamber email website music) ELIGIBILITY Application deadline April 15, 2020 • Open to competitors from all nations SEMIFINALS (live rounds) • Previous 1st prize winner resubmission will not be Harbin Conservatory of Music, Harbin, China accepted July 15-16: Gala Rehearsal & Registration • Age limit: not over 31 July 17: Opening Gala ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings July 18-20: Preliminary Round for Violin & Cello Divisions DETAILS July 22 -23: Semifinal Round for Violin & Cello Travel covered? Yes Divisions Frequency Biennial First prize $10,000 to $50,000 FINALS (live rounds) Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Harbin Concert Hall / Harbin Grand Theatre, Harbin, Additional prizes Performances China Management July 25: Final for Chamber Music Division Recording July 26-27: Final for Violin & Cello Divisions COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 45 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 SHANGHAI ISAAC STERN FRANZ SCHUBERT AND MODERN MUSIC INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION
Its uniqueness is the combination of traditional Jury chairs Shanghai’s world-class violin competition, Shanghai DETAILS and contemporary music so that not only the Joseph Breinl (Lied Duo) & Chia Chou (Piano Trio) Isaac Stern International Violin Competition, offers Travel covered? Yes participants but also the audience gets in touch Additional jurors a grand prize of $100,000. It aims to continue the Frequency Biennial with both genres. Participants will perform winning Lied Duo: Benjamin Appl; André Morsch; Anthony legacy of the distinguished violinist’s musical spirit First prize More than $50,000 pieces of an affiliated composition competition. Spiri; Christianne Stotijn; Roger Vignoles and carry forward his 40-year-long friendship and Smallest prize $5,000 to $10,000 Piano Trio: Enrico Bronzi; Lucy Gould; Stefan musical bond with China. This year celebrates Additional prizes Performances MAIN OFFICE Heinemeyer; Catherine Klipfel Maestro Stern’s centenary. Recording Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Jury size 6 to 10 Jury chairs Leonhardstraße 15 Application fee MAIN OFFICE David Stern and Vera Tsu Weiling A-8010 Graz €140 – €210 per ensemble No. 1380 Middle Fuxing Road Additional jurors AUSTRIA Application deadline October 21, 2020 Shanghai 200031 Martin Campbell-White; Glenn Dicterow; Emmanuel +43 316 389 1900 CHINA Hondré; Weigang Li; Ning Feng; Philip Setzer; Hagai email website SEMIFINALS (live rounds) email website Shaham; Joel Smirnoff; Kyoko Takezawa; Maxim Thursday, February 11, 2021 to Friday, December 2, Vengerov; Jian Wang ELIGIBILITY 2021, Graz, Austria ELIGIBILITY Up to 35 years of age. MUMUTH (House of Music and Music Drama): Trio The Competition is open to participants of all Jury size 11 or more for Piano, Violin and Violoncello nationalities between the ages 16 and 32; born Application fee $100 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES on or before August 4, 2004, and born on or after Piano • Strings • Voice in the form of Duo for Voice Palais Meran: Duo for Voice and Piano (Lied) Application deadline January 20, 2020 August 4, 1988. Application notes and Piano (Lied) or Trio for Piano, Violin, and FINALS (live rounds) Violoncello ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings Application deadline is 23:59 GMT+8 on January Sunday, February 14, 2021, MUMUTH (House of 20, 2020. Pre-selection video must be uploaded by DETAILS Music and Music Drama), Graz, Austria. February 28, 2020 (23:59 GMT+8). Travel covered? No Duo for Voice and Piano (Lied); Trio for Piano, Violin, Frequency Triennial and Violoncello SEMIFINALS (live rounds) First prize €10,000 to €50,000 August 10-16, 2020, Shanghai Symphony Hall, COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Shanghai, China Smallest prize Less than €5,000 ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed Additional prizes Performances ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed FINALS (live rounds) Management August 21-23, 2020, Shanghai Symphony Hall, Recording Social links Shanghai, China COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 46 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 XII INTERNATIONAL JEAN SIBELIUS SIEMENS HALLÉ INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION CONDUCTORS COMPETITION 2020
XII International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition will DETAILS Celebrating the innovative and longstanding DETAILS be held in Helsinki from November 22 to December Travel covered? No partnership between The Hallé and Siemens, the Travel covered? Yes 3, 2020. First and second rounds with pianist and Frequency Quinquennial winner will become assistant conductor of the Hallé, Frequency Biennial finals with two symphony orchestras: Finnish Radio First prize €10,000 to €50,000 working alongside Sir Mark Elder for a minimum First prize €10,000 to €50,000 Symphony Orchestra/Dima Slobodeniouk, and Smallest prize Less than €5,000 two-year period in a role that represents an Smallest prize Less than €5,000 Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/Susanna Mälkki. Additional prize Performances invaluable chance to build a career and establish a Additional prize Performances Jury chair presence on the world stage. Jury chair MAIN OFFICE Sakari Oramo, conductor and professor of Orchestral Sir Mark Elder; music director, The Hallé Sibelius Academy Training and Orchestral Conducting MAIN OFFICE Additional jurors PO Box 38 Jury size 6 to 10 Hallé Concerts Society Stephan Frucht, Siemens AG, artistic director of FI-00097 Uniarts The Bridgewater Hall Siemens’ Arts Program; Carola Reul, managing FINLAND Application fee €60 Lower Mosley Street director, Junge Deutsche Philharmonie; Julia +35 8407104217 Application deadline August 11, 2020 Manchester M1 5HA Albrecht, director, KD Schmid; Arna Kristín email website UNITED KINGDOM FINALS (live rounds) Einarsdóttir, managing director, National Arts Centre +44 0161 237 7023 Orchestra; John Summers, chief executive, The Hallé; ELIGIBILITY December 1-3, 2020, Helsinki Music Centre, Finland: email website Open to all violinists born in or after 1990. violin soloist with two symphony orchestras, Sibelius Geoffrey Owen, head of artistic planning, The Hallé Violin Concerto and an additional concerto listed in ELIGIBILITY Jury size 6 to 10 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings the rules. Applications are now closed. The winner will be Application deadline July 1, 2019 an emerging talented conductor with relevant SEMIFINALS (live rounds) COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? postgraduate study qualifications and experience ✔ ✔ Hallé St. Peters, Manchester, United Kingdom Semifinals Semifinals streamed conducting professional orchestras. Applicants from ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Hallé Youth Orchestra Round: February 20, 2020, any country are eligible. 11 am-1 pm and 2-4 pm • Digital Challenge Round: Social links ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Conducting February 21, 2020, schedule TBD FINALS (live rounds) February 22, 2020, 11:30 am-5 pm, Hallé St Peters, Manchester, United Kingdom COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✖ Not open to the public Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 47 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 SPHINX COMPETITION
The Sphinx Competition offers young Black and DETAILS Latinx classical string players a chance to compete Travel covered? Yes VOICE under the guidance of a renowned panel of judges. Frequency Annual THE QUEEN SONJA Its primary goals are to encourage, develop, and First prize $10,000 to $50,000 2021 recognize classical music talent in the Black and Smallest prize Less than $5,000 INTERNATIONAL Latinx communities. Additional prizes Performances Management MUSIC COMPETITION MAIN OFFICE Jury chair(s) Not provided OSLO, 10 – 20 AUGUST 2021 400 Renaissance Center, Suite 2550 Jury size 6 to 10 Detroit, MI 48243 Application fee $35 An opportunity of a lifetime! UNITED STATES Application deadline October 20, 2020 313-877-9100 x712 First prize € 50.000 / Career development session / Application notes Masterclasses / Concert opportunities email website Check for additional application details. Application deadline 1 April 2021 ELIGIBILITY SEMIFINALS (live rounds) The Competition is open to all junior high-, high Thursday, January 28, 2021, Detroit, MI school-, and college-age Black and Latinx string www.qsimc.no players residing in the U.S. FINALS (live rounds) Detroit, MI: ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings Junior Division Finals: Friday, January 29, 2021 Senior Division Finals: Saturday, January 30, 2021 COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 48 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 WILHELM STENHAMMAR STULBERG INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION STRING COMPETITION
Wilhelm Stenhammar International Music DETAILS Established in 1975, the Stulberg is one of the DETAILS Competition (WSIMC) was started in 2006 in Travel covered? No longest-standing string competitions in the country. Travel covered? No Norrköping, Sweden, by Sonja Stenhammar and has Frequency Biennial Its uniqueness stems from its focus on young string Frequency Annual since been held every second year. Contestants are First prize €10,000 to €50,000 musicians, its high caliber of judges, its reputation First prize Less than $10,000 required to perform a work of Wilhelm Stenhammar, Smallest prize Less than €5,000 for excellence, and its longevity. Smallest prize Less than $5,000 the famous Swedish composer. Additional prize Performances Additional prize Performances Jury chair(s) TBD MAIN OFFICE Jury chair(s) Not provided MAIN OFFICE Additional jurors 359 South Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 14 Additional jurors Holmengatan 14 Nader Abbassi, Kairo/Geneva; Georges Delnon, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Clive Greensmith, cello; Yura Lee, viola-violin; 602 32 Norrköping Hamburg, Germany; Göran Gademan, Gothenburg, UNITED STATES Cho-Liang Lin, violin SWEDEN Sweden; Franziska Maria Kaiser, Copenhagn, 269-343-2776 Jury size 1 to 5 +46 11 218668 +46 11 218669 cell +46 706167806 Denmark; Olga Kondina, St. Petersburg, Russia; email website Application fee $130 cell +46 730356854 Karin Veres, Norrköpingm Sweden; one more jury Application deadline February 1, 2020 email website ELIGIBILITY member will be named The Stulberg International String Competition is Jury size 6 to 10 SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ELIGIBILITY open to students of violin, viola, cello, or double 2020 semifinals take place between 9 am and 4 pm Critera: 6 opera arias from different periods, 2 from Application fee €120 bass from around the world. Applicants must be Application deadline February 15, 2020 on Saturday, May 16, 2020, in Dalton Center Recital WSIMC obligatory repertoire • 3 arias from oratorio, under the age of 20 on January 1, prior to that year’s Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI passion, mass, cantata, or concert aria repertoire SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Competition. Proof of date of birth will be required • 4 Lieder/songs in different styles • 1 piece by June 6-8, 2020, Louis de Geer Concert Hall, if selected as a semifinalist. Current students of that FINALS (live rounds) Wilhelm Stenhammar. Norrkoping, Sweden year’s judges are not eligible to apply. 2020 Finals take place beginning at 7:30 pm on Saturday, May 16, 2020, in Dalton Center Recital Hall, ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice FINALS (live rounds) ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI June 10, 2020, 6 pm-9 pm, Louis de Geer Concert Hall, Norrkoping, Sweden—finals and awards COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ ✔ ceremony Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed Social links ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 49 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION TAKAMATSU INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
The Sydney International Piano Competition has DETAILS Takamatsu International Piano Competition DETAILS always held events at the highest international level. Travel covered? Yes provides a forum to bring together top musicians Travel covered? Yes It inspires pianists and audiences alike, stimulating Frequency Quadrennial worldwide and encourages young people to pursue Frequency Quadrennial interest in the piano and music in general and First prize $10,000 to $50,000 their dreams and goals of self-development. Jury chair Shuku Iwasaki, pianist providing a platform to showcase outstanding Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Additional jurors pianists from around the world and assist in Additional prizes Performances MAIN OFFICE Susumu Aoyagi, pianist; Edward Auer, pianist; developing their careers. Management Central Tamachi Building 6F 11-5 Tamachi Vincenzo Balzani, pianist; Dang Thai Son, pianist; Recording Takamatsu Pascal Devoyon, pianist; Shinichiro Ikebe, composer; MAIN OFFICE Jury chair Kagawa 760-0053 Jan Jiracek von Arnim, pianist; Piotr Paleczny, pianist; Sydney Conservatorium of Music Piers Lane AO*, artistic director and chairman of JAPAN Andrey Pisarev, pianist; Antti Siirala, pianist Conservatorium Road the jury +81 87 812-5583 Jury size 11 or more Sydney NSW 2000 Additional jurors email website Application deadline September 20, 2021 AUSTRALIA Olivier Cazal; Mark Coughlan; Elena Kats-Chernin +61 2 9241 3291 ELIGIBILITY FINALS (live rounds) AO*; Olga Kern; Marianna Shirinyan; Vladimir Tropp; Individuals born between January 1, 1987, and email website Xiaohan Wang; Mira Yevtich Saturday and Sunday, March 26-27, 2022, Sunport January 1, 2007. Hall Takamatsu Main Hall, Takamatsu, Japan ELIGIBILITY Jury size 6 to 10 Must be 18-32 years of age. Application fee $200 ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Application deadline December 4, 2023 ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Piano ✔ ✔ SEMIFINALS (live rounds) Finals Finals streamed Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Verbrugghen Hall: Social links Preliminary stage: July 9-13, 2020 Semifinal stage: July 15-19, 2020 FINALS (live rounds) July 21-25, 2020, Sydney Town Hall COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed *AO indicates Order of Australia membership Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 50 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 Cologne | Germany TORU TAKEMITSU
Informations 28.09. – 03.10.2020 COMPOSITION AWARD 2020 www.imwk.hfmt-koeln.de Cash award the total sum of 3,000,000 JPY (about DETAILS Application deadline International May 15, 2020 $27,000) each year. The judge may withhold the Travel covered? Yes prize. The composers whose works are selected to Frequency Annual Contact Music Competition Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln be performed will be invited to attend. First prize $10,000 to $50,000 Cologne Smallest prize Less than $5,000 Unter Krahnenbäumen 87 MAIN OFFICE D-50668 Köln Jury chair Pascal Dusapin 3-20-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku Jury size 1 to 5 Phone: (+49) 221 28380-253 Singing Tokyo 163-1403 [email protected] Application fee None JAPAN Application deadline September 30, 2020 +81 3 5353 0770 Application notes email website Hohnen Foundation Please submit two copies of the bound score, ELIGIBILITY together with a completed entry form to the office Any person, regardless of nationality, who is not by the above deadline. Mailed entries must be over 35 years old at the end of the year his/her received by the above dates Receipt of entries on application is submitted. the last day will close at 6:00 pm (Japan time). ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Composition FINALS (live rounds) Sunday, May 30, 2021, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Tokyo, Japan 1st Prize 30 000 euro COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Apply before 20 April 2020 ✖ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed Sign up at griegcompetition.com
A unique opportunity to experience Grieg’s world of inspiration in Bergen, and to win the 1st Prize of 30.000 euro.
12–20 September 2020 • Bergen, Norway
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 51 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 36TH VALSESIA MUSICA VIOTTI INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION 2020 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION
Valsesia Musica (former Viotti Valsesia) Competition DETAILS The Viotti International Music Competition, DETAILS started in 1981 to promote young talented Travel covered? No established in Vercelli in 1950 by Joseph Robbone, Travel covered? No musicians as well as Valsesia, the greenest valley Frequency is one of the most prestigious Italian music Frequency Annual in Italy. It is divided in different sections: violin and Annual, alternating disciplines competitions; its prize-winners often reach the top First prize €10,000 to €50,000 orchestra, piano, voice, and a juniors contest for First prize Less than €10,000 of their artistic careers. It is renowned for its high Smallest prize Less than €5,000 piano, strings, and chamber music. The next voice Smallest prize Less than €5,000 standards, awards, and prestigious jury. Additional prize Performances competition is in 2021. Additional prize Recording Jury chair Jury chair(s) TBD MAIN OFFICE Pietro Borgonovo, artistic director of the Viotti Music MAIN OFFICE Additional jurors TBD Via Monte di Pietà 39 Competition corso Roma, 35 Jury size 1 to 5 13100 Vercelli Jury size 6 to 10 I- 13019 Varallo (VC) Application fee €100 ITALY Application fee €120 ITALY Application deadline April 17, 2020 +39 0161 255 575 Application deadline July 24, 2020 +39 0163 560020 Application notes email website Application notes email website Violin and orchestra: April 17, 2020; piano: July 31, ELIGIBILITY The two disciplines of the Viotti Competition, Voice ELIGIBILITY 2020. The 71st Gian Battista Viotti International Music and Piano, alternate from year to year. The deadlines Open to violinists, singers, and pianists from all over Competition 2020 is open to opera singers of all for each competition are scheduled in late July of SEMIFINALS (live rounds) the same year. the world up to 37 years old. May 13, 2020, violin and orchestra, Teatro Civico in nationalities. The age limit for the singers is 30 (women) and 32 (men). ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Piano • Strings • Voice Varallo (VC), Italy; late August, 2020 (TBD), piano SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Piano • Voice City Theatre of Vercelli, Vercelli, Italy FINALS (live rounds) Opera Singing: October 10-12, 2020, first round May 14, 2020, violin and orchestra, Teatro Civico • October 13-14, 2020, semifinal in Varallo (VC), Italy; early September, 2020 (TBD), piano FINALS (live rounds) City Theatre of Vercelli, Vercelli, Italy COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Saturday, October 17, 2020, final with Orchestra del ✔ ✖ Semifinals Semifinals streamed Teatro Carlo Felice ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? Social links ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 52 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 INTERNATIONAL HENRYK WIENIAWSKI VSA INTERNATIONAL YOUNG SOLOISTS VIOLIN COMPETITION POZNA ´N
Each year, outstanding young musicians with DETAILS The Competition runs October 9-22, 2021 and is DETAILS disabilities from around the world receive the VSA Travel covered? Yes divided into three sections: first, solo with piano; Travel covered? No International Young Soloists Award of $2,000, and Frequency Annual second (in two parts), with piano and with chamber Frequency Quinquennial the opportunity to perform at the John F. Kennedy First prize Less than $10,000 orchestra; third, with symphony orchestra (two First prize €10,000 to €50,000 Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Smallest prize Less than $5,000 concertos). A prize-winner gala is held on October Smallest prize Less than €10,000 Additional prize Performances 22, 2021 in Poznan, and repeated in Warsaw on Additional prize Performances MAIN OFFICE Jury chair(s) Not provided October 24, 2021. Jury chair Augustin Dumay 2700 F Street NW Jury size 1 to 5 Additional jurors Washington, DC 20566 Application deadline February 19, 2020 MAIN OFFICE Daniel Stabrawa; Agnieszka Duczmal UNITED STATES Towarzystwo Muzyczne im. H. Wieniawskiego Jury size 11 or more email website FINALS (live rounds) ul. Swietoslawska 7 Application fee June 25, 2020: Selected winners perform at the 61-840 Poznan €50 (preliminary selection fee) + €150 (Competition ELIGIBILITY John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, POLAND Musicians with disabilities between the ages of entrance fee) Washington, DC +48 61 852 2642 x20 Application deadline December 15, 2020 14 to 25. This includes physical, learning, sensory, email website cognitive, socio-emotional disabilities, and more. COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? SEMIFINALS (live rounds) ✖ ✖ Semifinals Semifinals streamed ELIGIBILITY All three stages take place at Adam Mickiewicz ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES ✔ ✔ Finals Finals streamed The Competition is open to violin players of University Auditorium in Poznan. Piano • Strings • Voice • All Instruments & Genres all nationalities born between 1991 and 2006. Social links October 24, 2021: Re-run of the Prize-Winner Candidates are qualified for the Competition subject Concert will take place in Warsaw Philharmony to submission of application forms and recordings • October 10-12, 2021: Stage One • October 13, 2021: judged by Preliminary Selection Jury, headed by day off (rehearsals with the orchestra) • October 14- Augustin Dumay. 18, 2021: Semifinal (Stage Two / chamber orchestra) ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings FINALS (live rounds) October 19-21, 2021: Stage Three COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 53 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 WIGMORE HALL/INDEPENDENT WIGMORE HALL OPERA INTERNATIONAL SONG COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL STRING QUARTET COMPETITION
The Competition celebrates the art of the song DETAILS The Wigmore Hall International String Quartet DETAILS recital and honors the Lied’s place at the heart of Travel covered? No Competition is one of the most prestigious quartet Travel covered? No the genre. The Competition has grown in status and Frequency Biennial competitions in the world. The Competition is held Frequency Triennial prestige since its foundation in 1997 and continues First prize €10,000 to €50,000 under the auspices of Wigmore Hall, the leading First prize €10,000 to €50,000 to attract international singers and pianists keen to Smallest prize Less than €5,000 venue for chamber music. It attracts the best young Smallest prize Less than €5,000 embark on significant recital careers. Additional prize Performances quartets and offers excellent career development Additional prize Performances Jury chair opportunities to prizewinners. Jury chair MAIN OFFICE John Gilhooly OBE—director, Wigmore Hall John Gilhooly OBE—Director, Wigmore Hall Wigmore Hall Additional jurors MAIN OFFICE Additional jurors 36 Wigmore Street Full Jury TBA in 2020 Wigmore Hall Jonathan Brown, viola, Casals Quartet; Hélène London W1U 2BP Jury size 6 to 10 36 Wigmore Street Clément, viola, Doric Quartet; Simin Ganatra, violin, UNITED KINGDOM Application fee London W1U 2BP Pacifica Quartet; Louise Hopkins, cello, Head of +44 0207 258 8244 £25 (initial); £35 (if selected) UNITED KINGDOM Strings, Guildhall School of Music & Drama; Laura email website Application deadline March 18, 2021 044 0207 258 8244 Samuel, violin, leader BBCSSO and ex-Belcea email website ELIGIBILITY Application notes Quartet; Kyril Zlotnikov, cello, Jerusalem Quartet All singers and accompanying pianists must be Deadline is 1:00 pm GMT (U.K. time) on March 18, ELIGIBILITY Jury size 6 to 10 under 33 at the start date of the Competition for 2021. All members of quartets wishing to apply must be Application fee £25 (initial) plus £35 (if selected) which they are applying. SEMIFINALS (live rounds) under 35 at the start date of the Competition for Application deadline October 15, 2020 Tuesday, September 7, 2021, Wigmore Hall, London, which they are applying. ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Voice Application notes United Kingdom ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings Application deadline is 1:00 pm GMT (UK time) on FINALS (live rounds) Thursday, October 15, 2020. Thursday, September 9, 2021, Wigmore Hall, SEMIFINALS (live rounds) London, United Kingdom Saturday, April 17, 2021, Wigmore Hall, London, COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? United Kingdom ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed FINALS (live rounds) ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Sunday, April18, 2021, Wigmore Hall, London, Social links United Kingdom COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✔ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✔ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 54 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 WILSON CENTER GUITAR FESTIVAL YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL AUDITIONS
It is the goal of the Wilson Center Guitar Festival DETAILS Young Concert Artists Inc. is a nonprofit DETAILS to celebrate the greatest guitarists of today and Travel covered? No organization dedicated to discovering and Travel covered? No tomorrow. Featuring five competition genres— Frequency Annual developing the careers of extraordinary classical Frequency Annual Blues, Classical, Fingerstyle, Jazz, and Rock/ First prize Less than $10,000 musicians. The sole criteria are exceptional First prize Less than $10,000 Blues—the Wilson Center Guitar Festival is open to Smallest prize Less than $5,000 musicianship, virtuosity, and individuality. The Smallest prize Less than $5,000 competitors of all ages. Jury chair(s) Not provided musicians compete against a standard of excellence, Additional prizes Performances Jury size 11 or more not each other. There is no set number of winners. Management MAIN OFFICE Application fee $50-$80 Jury chair 3270 Mitchell Park Drive Application deadline June 1, 2020 MAIN OFFICE Daniel Kellogg, president Brookfield, WI 53045 Application notes 1776 Broadway, Suite 1500 Additional jurors TBD UNITED STATES All applications must be received by midnight New York, NY 10019 Jury size 11 or more 262-781-9470 (CDT) on June 1, 2020. Applicants must submit a UNITED STATES Application fee email website performance video of two contrasting works either 212-307-6656 $55 early deadline / $85 final deadline email website ELIGIBILITY by DVD or YouTube, with the video marked as public Application deadline July 31, 2020 The Wilson Center Guitar Festival is open to or unlisted. Please read the complete rules on the ELIGIBILITY Application notes individuals of all ages. Candidates are required to website before applying. Applicants at the beginning of a musical career, who Early deadline: Monday, June 1, 2020; final deadline: Monday, August 3, 2020. complete and submit the application form and SEMIFINALS (live rounds) offer repertoire within the categories listed, provide video(s) by the specified due date. A candidate Friday, August 14, 2020, Sharon Lynne Wilson Center two appropriate letters of recommendation, and are SEMIFINALS (live rounds) may not be a professional guitarist and may for the Arts, 327 Mitchell Park Drive, Brookfield, WI. not under U.S. management. November 2020, New York, NY not be signed to any labels and/or professional Semifinal rounds will take place in front of a public ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES management. A professional guitarist is defined as audience and will be judged by a panel of renowned FINALS (live rounds) a person who makes a full-time career from guitar Piano • Strings • Voice • Brass • Woodwinds November 2020, New York, NY artists from each genre. Check website for complete • Chamber Ensembles related work. The qualification as a non-professional information and repertoire requirements. All dates/ guitarist will ultimately be at the sole discretion of COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? times subject to change. ✖ ✖ the Wilson Center Guitar Festival management. Semifinals Semifinals streamed ✔ ✔ FINALS (live rounds) Finals Finals streamed ARTISTIC DISCIPLINE Strings Saturday, August 15, 2020, Sharon Lynne Wilson Social links Center for the Arts, 327 Mitchell Park Drive, Brookfield, WI. Semifinal rounds will take place in front of a public audience and will be judged by a panel of renowned artists from each genre. Check website for complete information and repertoire requirements. All dates/times subject to change. COMPETITION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? ✔ Semifinals ✖ Semifinals streamed ✔ Finals ✖ Finals streamed Social links
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 55 musicalamerica.com • February 2020 MORE ON THE
WEb Advertiser Index Stephanie Challener In addition to the Competitions featured in this special report, the Musical America database of more Publisher and Managing Editor than 450 music competitions worldwide is free of charge for the month of February 2020! ARD International Music Competition Munich...... 29 Susan Elliott Atlanta Chamber Players...... 17 Editor, News and Special Reports [email protected] A Musical America Guide to Competitions Jamie Barton: Competitor Extraordinaire 2020 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competitions...... 39 Our Special Report on the top competitions in the Frances Wan William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition...... 29 world. Confessions of a Seasoned Jurist Design Director | Database Publishing Specialist Christmas Carol Commission Competition...... 22 Howard Roth The Grand Competition Evolution of the What Do the Judges Look For? International Music Competition Cologne...... 51 Business Consultant 21st Century Cooper-Bing Competition...... 33 Sedgwick Clark Features Editor, Musical America Directory Why Competitions Matter (or Not) Dublin International Piano Competition...... 8 Competition Insights from the Horse’s The Global Foundation for the Performing Arts— Bill Esposito Manager of Listing Services Mouth Win a Contest, Get a Gig? China International Music Competition...... 10 [email protected] The International Edvard Grieg Piano Competition...... 51 Tony Maiorino 5 Top Competitors: Lessons Learned from Choosing the Best Competition for YOU Michael Hill International Violin Competition...... 22 Advertising Sales Representative 609-448-3346 ß [email protected] Winning and Losing Jinji Lake International Piano Competition 2020...... 19 Carolyn Eychenne (Europe) Johansen International Competition Advertising Sales Representative for Young String Players (Ages 13–17)...... 42 33.1.39.58.14.01 ß [email protected] Kocian Violin Competition...... 14 Andrea Rancati (Italy) Music Teachers National Association...... 12 Advertising Sales Representative 39.02.703.00088 ß [email protected] National Association of Teachers of Singing Competitions...... 36 Debra Kraft In The Next Issue… The New York International Piano Competition...... 12 Account Coordinator PianoArts North American Piano Competition and Festival...... 42 [email protected] Queen Sonja International Music Competition...... 48 FESTIVALS PUBLISHED BY A 2020 Summer Guide Schoenfeld International String Competition ...... 45 Franz Schubert and Modern Music...... 5 Coming 7 April 2020 XII International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition...... 17
Questions? Email [email protected] Wilhelm Stenhammar International Music Competition...... 8 Performing Arts Resources, LLC 16th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition, Poznań...... 48 PO Box 1330, Hightstown, NJ 08520 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition...... 33 609-448-3346 ß [email protected]
The musical america Guide to Top Competitions 56 musicalamerica.com • February 2020